Transmissions are not my strong suit at all so if anyone has any thoughts on what just happened this morning to my trans I would be most grateful.

This car has not got all the attention that I it deserves, has been a fine runner since I bought it a little over a year ago w/ 115k miles but it had not been maintained properly. Nothing major until now just all the normal model stuff that needs attention. Until the last couple of days it had just been driven on like 3 or 4 long trips and had been put aside until I could start putting on all the new parts I find time to buy but not install.

One of those things to do was a trans fluid kit and modulator valve as it was flairing on 2-3 but not real bad. The fluid was not burnt and up to level but today when my daily commuter was down I decided to drive it to work. So lord knows why but I get on it after it was all warmed up and at WOT and about 4k rpm or so the tranmission emitted a loud metal on metal screech which soon stopped. Now the trans is howling and slipping but can be driven slow and shifts etc. but slips bad.

I am guessing I broke a belt. Seem right? I can limp it home today or should I call AAA to tow me home and also any suggestions for me or estimate $$$'s for rebuild would be welcome. I already have projects out the wazoo because I have a fetish for them or something and now my TDI, 6.7 Cummins pickup and the Benz is down because of my antics

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1986 300 SDL - rolling parts car and test bed.
1987 300 SDL - semi daily driver.
1977 U1000 Unimog
2007 Ram 2500 6.7l

I don't know of any belts in the transmission but that sounds pretty serious. See if babymog has a transmission for you.

Sixto
87 300D

Sorry I meant to say band broke? I will look for babymog thanks. Heck I even have a big Mog project sitting in the shop

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1986 300 SDL - rolling parts car and test bed.
1987 300 SDL - semi daily driver.
1977 U1000 Unimog
2007 Ram 2500 6.7l

Where are you located?

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

A rebuild is going to run you $1,200-$1,500, not bad really. They are also easy to pull if you do that yourself. If you have a lift it will be real easy.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Seattle.thx

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1986 300 SDL - rolling parts car and test bed.
1987 300 SDL - semi daily driver.
1977 U1000 Unimog
2007 Ram 2500 6.7l

Yeah I scoped European Transmission at about that with a 1 yr warranty. I am pretty sure it will come to that if I fix it. Chassis just needs paint to be near perfect, engine is tight as all get out, just the normal HVAC, sunroof, etc. issues. Yeah I paid too much but I just want my ultimate road tripping car and for me that the 86 and 87 L.

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1986 300 SDL - rolling parts car and test bed.
1987 300 SDL - semi daily driver.
1977 U1000 Unimog
2007 Ram 2500 6.7l

The good working transmission out of my 1981 300SD is at JohnHef's in Md. I wanted $200 for it. Contact him and see if he can ship it out to you. I think that the transmission is the same from 1981 to 1987... If you get the part number off yours, he can compare them.

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Nope, starter hump is on the driver side in a 603.

Sixto
87 300D

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I just noted reading this that I said it was an 1987 when in fact it is an 1986. Nice huh...

I left it a Friedel's in Renton WA to pay for their opinion at the minimum. They are said to be the place in the area that you can trust. They will recognize all the normal age maladies at least I hope because on the drive home I kind of nurtured the idea that this might just be a permutation of one that they recognize.

The howling noise is directly proportional to RPM and is the same in neutral and drive and that for some probably fantastical reason gives me hope. It might not even be the transmission as strange as that makes me seem. I just have zero time to look at it now.

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1986 300 SDL - rolling parts car and test bed.
1987 300 SDL - semi daily driver.
1977 U1000 Unimog
2007 Ram 2500 6.7l

Check the b2 piston. I just had mine fail and fixed it easily. Under $200. Does it work in reverse?3rd &4th? I kind of doubt this is your problem based on the noises you heard. But you can quickly check it. Look at Diesel Giant site for instructions. Goodluck

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81 300D Turbo 190K sold
83 300sd 319K best $500 I ever spent-daily driverw/ 2 tank WVO set up

Thanks... all the gears work but it seems to me the converter may just not be working. All I was able to do is drive it to the shop though.

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1986 300 SDL - rolling parts car and test bed.
1987 300 SDL - semi daily driver.
1977 U1000 Unimog
2007 Ram 2500 6.7l

Bellhousing swap? I think the internals are the same ie; gear ratios & etc...

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Metal scraping should have resonated with me sooner since I've been through this. My money's on a broken flex plate.

Sixto
87 300D

I bet you're right. I second a broken flex plate. Probably not the trans at all, especially with that low of miles.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)