Okay, my transmission will shift very smoothly when I mash on the pedal. However, when I try to drive conservatively like less than half pedal the transmission shifts very hard especially into 4th.

I have replaced the fluid, the filter, cleaned the vacuum lines and checked them. Could it be a problem with the ALDA?

Hard shift on a tranny usually means little or no vacuum. There are threads on how to test the vacuum modulator and the VCV (Vacuum control valve)

Use this to start...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=158216&highlight=adjust+transmission

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

"This external system must pass onto the modulator a variable vacuum that decreases from ~15 inches of vacuum down to or near “zero” as you drive and put the petal-to-the-metal!"

Okay that helped a little. I am not having any down shifting problems. I need to know if there is a specific part where i can make an adjustment besides the ALDA.


"The green dashpot is also similar to an orifice. It dampens the changes in vaccuum level to the VCV.

Get rid of all the lines to and from the black box on the valve cover. Two of them go into separate "T's" on the driver's side of the engine. Just take out the T's and connect the remaining ends with a section of vacuum hose. Many times, the source of poor shifting is due to excessive leaks via the 3/2 valves inside the black box."

This is the culprit! I am guessing the two Ts toward the driver side are not EGR. I am going to try this and see if this works if not it is back to the drwing board.

By the way this 300sd could not make it more than a block when i got it. Recently, I took a 200 mile road trip in it. It was great on the highway but I am looking for better city driving quality. This is also diesel Benz #3 for me.

Well, eliminating the black box on top of the valve cover, as per Brian Carltons suggestion, did not work. Is there a way to manually adjust the transmission vacuum actuator?

There are adjustment that can help you. You'll need a Mityvac or a vacuum gauge. When you have one of them.........repost.

OK, we finally got car type, but still no year model. That will make a difference as there are several different vacuum configurations.......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John