When in hard acceration she seems to shift into forth between 35- 40mph but more like 35. It shifts smooth but forth gear in that low speed makes getting up to speed even slower. Also you can't step on it to get into passing gear because it is to the floor. What areas should be looked at?

Check the vacuum level to the tranny and the condition of the vacuum shift levers that are mounted on the valve cover. Here's a link. http://www.dieselgiant.com/trannyleverreplace.htm.

John

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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion
1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold
2006 E320 CDI

Brain Carlton and this forum have amazing posts concerning transmissions in the older diesels...I read all the posts and did the work...my tranny shifts like a dream and my 240D has more power and speed than I ever dreamed of..

Shift points are controlled by the bowden cable or shift rods. Do a search on it and then adjust the length of the cable (rods) to move shift points.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I stuck my head under the hood for a time today. The valves under the black box on the valve cover look ok to the eye. Of course that dosn't mean they work right.
I could not find any cable or rod that went to the transmission only a air line.
Under the gas pedel I did find a switch. However there must be a part broaken off because the accerator pedel can not reach far down enough to trigger the switch.
And is is ok if the EGR valve is left with out any vacume applied? Will that disconnected mean no exhust recycle which seems like a good thing?

What year is the car? Should be something going to the transmission down the right side of the engine (passenger side) and connected to the accelerator linkage on top of the valve cover.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Kerry, some of those 240s' relied on vacuum for both shift quality and shift timing.........they had no Bowden cable. I'm not at all familiar with them and someone who actually has adjusted on of them needs to respond.

Hmmm. I knew some had no vacuum and just shift rods but I didn't know the reverse was also true.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Its an 1983, I have to try and find out if the switch behind the pedal is a passing gear switch and what is the missing part. I seen somewhere someone was talking about a ball shaped object under his pedal.

Yes, that is a kickdown switch. I think an 83 should have the bowden cable. Brian? Others might jump in who have 83 240d's. If your Bowden cable is missing or disconnected, it might account for the shift issues.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'd think by '83 that all of them had the cable...........but, I don't want to presume anything...........need confirmation from a 240D owner.

Since no 83 240d owners have responded, I suggest the following: Do a search on Bowden cable and 'picture'. You'll find some threads with pictures of the Bowden cable attached at the linkage on top of the valve cover. Look at your linkage and see if you can determine whether you should have a Bowden cable or not. Also, look at the back right side of your engine to see if you can see a loose cable. It's possible that someone removed the valve cover to adjust the valves and forgot to reattach the cable when reinstalling the valve cover.
If my recollection is correct, loosening the Bowden cable lowers the shift points so if it was removed, the shift points would move downward to their lowest point.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thank you I will give it another look. Funny that one of those linkages opens a butterfly valve in the intake manifold.

I thought the butterfly valve was long gone before 83. Are you sure the motor hasn't been replaced?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

the 83 240D i just parted out has no cable connection to the tranny. just a single vacum line, and a little black box with a wire to it, right beside the starter on the tranny. the 82 300SD engine i picked up shortly after has a cable and a vacum line for the tranny. yet the SD uses an electric speed sensor, while the 240D engine uses a mechanical speedo cable.

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93 b2200 EFI turbo, reg cab/short box, F2t swap build thread here
92 B2600i Cab plus getting a 82 3.0L 5cyl 617 mercedes Turbo Diesel build thread here
96 GMC 1500 z71 4x4 6.5L turbo diesel
Diesel all the way!!!