Hello all,

Well my '87 190D 2.5 Turbo has been sitting in the driveway for the better part of a month now. I was driving to work and after accelerating from a stop, the car would not shift out of first gear. It didn't even try. I limped to a nearby church parking lot and had AAA tow it to my house.

Transmission showed no previous signs of a problem other than an occasional rough shift. Although AFAIK that can be common with these trannys. Fluid level was fine with good looking Mobil 1 ATF in use.

Where to start the diagnosis? TIA

Gear selectors, worn rubbers ?

__________________
306D 1975 (camper) - rusting away
W116 450 SEL 1975 - sold
W114 long wheelbase ambulance, 3 litre diesel 1974

VW Golf 1 convertable - midlife crisis item
VW T4 van - support vehicle

Stuck kickdown switch or stuck bowden cable?

__________________
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

Well it's an automatic gearbox so all I have to do is put it in "D". It will go into reverse, neutral, and park fine.

I checked the bowden cable where it attaches to the throttle linkage and it seemed to move fine with some tension on the other end so I don't think it is broken.

I was also thinking kickdown switch. Any vac modulator fans out there? I don't want to simply start replacing switches, soleniods etc. without diagnosing the problem as that can get $$.

Does anyone have a method for diagnosis?

Unplug the kickdown switch. Did you check the fluid level?

__________________
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

Broken governor gears are common failures on the 722.4 trans.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Mobil 1 ATF is not an ideal fluid for these transmissions. They switched to the "multi vehicle formula" and it smells much different and is no longer recommended as a Dexron III fluid.

__________________
-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)

I agree with BC... I've had 3 that were not rebuildable due to case damage from this...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

On an American car this would almost always be a bad modulator valve or a leak in the vacuum line that goes to the modulator valve. I can only assume that the Mercedes automatic operates on the same principle.

Look under the accelerator pedal and unplug the kick down switch...cheap easy free. Then go for a test drive.

Hey John,
Time to take a rest, looks like you are getting BC & M.B.DOC mixed. BC has not posted.
Both very smart guys & probably BC would come to the same conclusion as you & M.B.DOC
.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

heh, there is a B and a C in his name...
I had a migraine this morning and it stayed with me until just a little while ago...
ya know those type that start out as a spot floating in your vision... the spot gets bigger, then boink.... pain in the head until it goes away... it was a pretty mild one, but it's the only excuse I've got...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

We all knew who you meant!
Looking at the screen is not good for a migraine. Have a sit or lay down some place warm & dark. Put a warm hat on.
Its going to be 105 F here today. Not good for migraines.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I gotta agree on the video for a migraine... but then again, nothing is good for a migraine...
... 105. how's the humidity?
over here, it's getting down to 25F or so at night, and it's supposed to peak around 60 this weekend... I can't wait!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I had the same problem recently with my car (80 model cd - drivetrain upgraded to '84); it was a vacuum leak - the rubber hose for the shutoff valve had developed a split. I cut it off past the split, stuck it back on, and voila... all's good now.