1st Gear on a 300D
 

what would happen if you jumpered (electrically) the kickdown switch on a 300D
(79) would the car now start in 1st gear and go through to 4th, Or would this cause problems for the tranmission? Anyone done this?

I don't know about your car, but mine always starts in 1st. It just doesn't kick down into 1st going around a corner.

1st gear
 

Mine starts in second unless i floor the pedal, Maybe there is something wrong with mine:confused:

my pedal doesnt even hit the kickdown switch.. another thing i need to work on

If you floor it, the car will start out in first, unless you physically put the gear selector into first gear. Sometimes I would start my 300CD out in first, then work my way up the gears, lots of black smoke :silly:

It is normal for the older cars to start out in second. I think this ended with the 1980 model year??

Jay.

If you have the 722.1 and older transmission in your diesel, you'll always start off in 2nd gear unless you hit the kickdown switch. If you have the 722.3 and newer transmission in your diesel, you start off in 1st gear, all the time. The last year for the 2nd gear start in the diesels was 1980.

Hawthorne, I think that it would work. I have a '77 240D with the automatic and it is really gutless on takeoff. I have thought about installing a momentary contact switch and tying it in with the kickdown. With the trans in Drive, you press the switch button and hold it until you are ready to shift into second and let off the button. I was going to install it on the shifter so it would be easy to use. I think that it would also be helpful to "kick down" the trans a gear without flooring it on slight hills. With a 240 automatic... you need all the help you can get!! Why they did this on the diesels, I'll never know.:silly:

I think that you could try the idea out without alot of hassle by unpluging the kickdown switch and rigging up a temporary momentary contact switch. In fact..... I think I might try it!