Picked up my new to me 91 300d 2.5 Test drove it a couple of days ago but didnt go too far with it. Shifting was very rough and sometimes it woul d shift up and down a couple of times on the 2-3 shift shift into 4th was ok.I have been lurking on here some and learned that some of these shift problems are caused by poor adjustments and some vacuum leaks so i stuck my neck out and bought it anyway.Today i went and picked it up and drove it home about 130 miles.Once it was warmed up completely the shifting was much better,actually not bad at all.Does anyone have any good ideas as why it would be so rough when cold (80*f) and OK once its upto temperature.I really would like to get it so it is at least acceptable when cold so it dosnt sound like its going to brake something so my wife will be comfortable driving it?
TIA Don

__________________
Red Green "This is only temporary,Unless it works!"

97 E300D 157000 miles
87 300TD ?141k? miles

First thing I would do is a tranny fluid/filter change, could make a significant difference. Synthetic fluid wouldn't hurt either.

__________________

Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

Yes, fluid and filter change (use Mobil 1 synthetic tranny fluid)

Then get a vacuum gauge and check if there are any leaks, especially from the vacuum control valve on the IP (by the little green short tube thing - smooths the vacuum out) to the transmission modulator valve. That's were you can easily have leaks.

Also see how much vacuum is going into the VCV.

Report back with those results and we'll see where we are.

__________________
1983 240D Silver/Blue "Sadie", unknown miles. 100k miles on WVO single tank, converted to 2 tank about 10k miles ago, FPHE, Injector Heaters, Aux Fuel pump. Alcohol/Water injection. Frantz oil bypass filter
1992 300D 2.5 Turbo Green/Tan "Jade" 267K miles Stock.
1992 300D 2.5 tan/tan "Rocky" on 2 tank WVO. Pressure actuated Turbo "rat's nest" surgery completed. 197k miles

My '92 2.3 190 automatic shifts extremely rough. Doesn't get much better as it warms up. I gather that vacuum leaks could be the cause and fluid change can help. Can I drain the fluid from this tranny or does it require a flush? Is there any way to flush yourself without taking to a shop?

Any other experiences with 190e automatics with rough shifts?