I shifted my 1981 123 240D manual transmission from reverse into 1st gear and now I can't get it out of 1st gear. My interior shifter won't allow me to shift to any other gear. I can't even shift it into neutral. Is there a simple way to check the linkage and find what is jamming? The transmission has always been a smooth shifter and the clutch is still functioning properly.

Jim....

I think you need to get under the car with a light....
probably some cotter pin or nut gave way and jammed the rods together... It will probably be obvious from underneath....

There are 'hard to describe' little spring clips that hold the shift rods to the levers on tranny and the shifter mechanism. I'm guessing one of those has broken and fallen off jamming the mechanism. On the other hand, I have had cars where one set of rods in the shifter have gotten misplaced slightly, jamming the mechanism with all the rods securely in place.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I will drive it up onto my small ramps once the rain stops dumping here....
Any other tips would be appreciated. Does anybody know of a good web link for information about the 123 manual transmission linkage? I have been needing to replace a speedometer cable anyway....so this will be a good time to do it while I'm crawling around down there...... Is it most likely to be a connection problem on the side of the tranny or is there anything to check with the console shifter ?

Jim.....

The Haynes manual has some good diagrams of the manual trans. linkage.

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1981 240d
Newport,RI