ran out of fuel now won't shift

[fruitcakesa]

So my wife comes in tonight and says the car is out of fuel and won't restart. I grab a jug of D2,some tools and spare filters and drive the 10 miles to where the MB is stranded. Refuel, prime it with the pump, crank it and it fires right up.
We then convoy on back and me in the Jetta arrives first, The MB arrives a few minutes later and my daughter who drives it says it won't shift out of 3rd and they revved it high all the way .
We switch cars and I bring the MB on home and it won't shift out of 2nd for me.
My question is, would the shift issue be just a coincidence or would running out of fuel affect vacuum or some such and thus cause this. I am still unfamiliar with this car, so excuse my ignorance if this thought is way off base. Any input will be appreciated 240D with 4 spd auto.
Thanks
Andrew

Vacuum will not change when it shifts. Check the bowden cable on top of the valve cover to see if it sticks.

[sixto]

Did the carpet or mat get wedged in/by/over the kickdown switch?

Sixto
87 300D

[Palangi]

Originally Posted by sixto

Did the carpet or mat get wedged in/by/over the kickdown switch?

Sixto
87 300D

Or did the driver stomp on the GO pedal hard enough to break the kickdown switch?

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Vacuum will not change when it shifts. Check the bowden cable on top of the valve cover to see if it sticks.

I don't believe his 240D has a cable. My 83 240D would not shift correctly with a loss of vacuum to the tranny. Did you break/disconnect a vacuum line when you primed it?

[nhdoc]

Originally Posted by Craig

I don't believe his 240D has a cable. My 83 240D would not shift correctly with a loss of vacuum to the tranny. Did you break/disconnect a vacuum line when you primed it?

$10 says that this is precisely what happened.

[fruitcakesa]

Pass go and collect $10. The fat vac line coming out of the brake booster splits into 3 smaller lines about where one would put his arms as he is priming the IP. One was knocked off. I replaced it and she be fixed.
Many thanks for all the help. These forums are the greatest resource us DIY mechs could have

At least you didn't break the connector and have to replace the $50 vacuum line (like I usually do).