I just bought my first ever Mercedes 300SD, and am very grateful for all of the advice this forum gives. When I put car in drive, there is about a 10 second delay before it goes into gear. Is this normal? If not, should I be concerned? Reverse works immediately.

Check the bushings on the shift linkages. Make sure the linkage doesn't have any slop in it. It will wiggle a little, but there shouldn't be ay major movement forward and backward.

__________________

this could either be really easy or really bad. bands could need adjusted. you could be getting too much vaccume you could slightly in gear.

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

Now this is where my ignorance will become apparent, where exactly are the shift linkages, and is there any adjustment that can be made to them?

Climb under the car and look at the rear of the transmission. On the passenger side there will be a rod running parallel to the driveshaft. It will have a 90 degree bend on either end, one end clips onto the shifter and the other to the transmission. Around each end there is a plastic piece (the bushings). These can wear out and make the shifter not move the lever arm on the trans right which can make it difficult to shift into gear.

There is no adjustment to the rod itself. The lever arm on the transmission can be adjusted, but unless it's been messed with or something wierd has happened to it you shouldn't have to adjust it.

__________________

Not to take too simplistic an approach.. but this is sometimes a symptom of low/polluted transmission fluid. Except for reverse working immediately...

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I didn't have anything like a ten second delay, but there was a noticeable delay and with reverse there was also a bit of a clunk. I replaced the two bushings as well as the neutral safety switch and everything was resolved. I did the bushings a few months ago and there was marked improvement. I did the NSS a few weeks ago and I wouldn't have thought it, but it affected the delay as well.

__________________
=-=-=-=-=
1987 300TD 231,000
#22, afterglow, plastic fan, euro lights, alternator upgrade, cluster housing update

Thanks everybody! I will try to wedge my 300 pounds under the car and have a look tomorrow.

Like BB says, might start with a fresh filter and fresh fluid. If the pump can't make pressure, you won't have proper shifting.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff