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  #1  
Old 12-08-2005, 12:48 PM
God of all things Harley
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbus,Ohio
Posts: 116
Do I have transmission trouble???

My newly aquired 81 300SD with 240,000 miles has shifting issues now that it is cold here in Ohio. The 3-4 shift has a second or two of flare until you get the tranny fully warmed up-10 to 15 miles.After the trany is warmed up it shifts very well.Also, at any temp when shifting into reverse it hesitates a few seconds and then goes into gear in a somewhat harsh manner. The only part I have replaced so far in conjunction with the tranny were the two small vacume arms on top of the valve cover. Do I have an issue or is this the norm? This is my first older Benz diesel.
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  #2  
Old 12-08-2005, 01:32 PM
boneheaddoctor's Avatar
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how old is the trans fluid? it may be overdue....I would suck out a quart from the fill tube and put in one quart of trans-X and change it in a few hundred miles (with new seal and filter) ...see if that helps before you develope a stomach ulcer.
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  #3  
Old 12-08-2005, 02:06 PM
God of all things Harley
 
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bone,the po had the car for a short period of time,no service records so no clue how old the fluid is. I can tell you it comes out clear on the dipstick.
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  #4  
Old 12-08-2005, 02:11 PM
boneheaddoctor's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hdexpert
bone,the po had the car for a short period of time,no service records so no clue how old the fluid is. I can tell you it comes out clear on the dipstick.
well..with those miles I am concerned with past neglect....causing varnish build up....

Trans-X will clean out that build up...

my reasoning is this....weather is cold...makes fluid thick....passages are restricted by varnish buildup so its tempermental when cold...hot fluid is thinner and passes through the passages easier...

and why its worth a shot to try Trans-X early on. Cost is low and it just might fix the problem.
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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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  #5  
Old 12-08-2005, 02:35 PM
God of all things Harley
 
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Location: Columbus,Ohio
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tx bone, I will give it a try and post results as soon as I return from vacation! Thanks for the advice!
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  #6  
Old 12-08-2005, 04:34 PM
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Location: RI shore
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hdexpert
My newly aquired 81 300SD with 240,000 miles has shifting issues now that it is cold here in Ohio. The 3-4 shift has a second or two of flare until you get the tranny fully warmed up-10 to 15 miles.After the trany is warmed up it shifts very well.Also, at any temp when shifting into reverse it hesitates a few seconds and then goes into gear in a somewhat harsh manner. The only part I have replaced so far in conjunction with the tranny were the two small vacume arms on top of the valve cover. Do I have an issue or is this the norm? This is my first older Benz diesel.
at the risk of being wrong again I'd say you have an issue. The problem is that your delayed reverse engagement is probably due to the B3 pack being worn down (pretty common) to the point where the piston travels too far and munches the spring pack against something (i think the K1 drum, I forget) - anyway, your 3-4 flare can maybe be improved by increasing the modulator pressure, but you could be on borrowed time.

Go ahead and try the trans-X though. It's great stuff.
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  #7  
Old 12-09-2005, 07:27 AM
God of all things Harley
 
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Location: Columbus,Ohio
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Tx Pete, I am going to try the trans-x first and see what happens. How much fluid should my tranny hold? What type of fluid can I use?
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  #8  
Old 12-09-2005, 08:39 AM
pawoSD's Avatar
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You can use Dexron III Mercon Tranny Fluid (non-synthetic type) or Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF, either will work fine, Synthetic is about 3 times as expensive as Dexron but its worth it. (I switched to it and it made quite a difference in smoothness and overall performance....)
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  #9  
Old 12-09-2005, 08:41 AM
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about 7 quarts. make sure you drain the torque converter also.
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listen, look, .........and duck.
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  #10  
Old 12-09-2005, 10:24 AM
God of all things Harley
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbus,Ohio
Posts: 116
Do I check my fluid level just like any other auto trany? Warm, running,on level ground? I have read that these cars are very sensative to over or under filling of the tranny fluid.Any tricks I should know about?
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  #11  
Old 12-09-2005, 04:19 PM
ConnClark's Avatar
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Make sure your car is up to temp. Drive it for a couple of miles then check it. Thermal expansion makes the level change pretty drastic.
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