Need help- trans only getting 1st and reverse (83 300sd) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

showme · #1 12-19-2011, 04:24 PM

I'm selling my 83sd, which has a rebuilt vac pump, but when I went out to take it for a test drive today, it wouldn't kick into second gear, even when I shifted it there manually on the console. It starts fine, and has plenty of oil and tranny fluid. One thing that's strange is that the accelerator pedal has to be pushed almost all the way to the floor to get much response. It's basically creeping along, even though the engine is revving up ok. And it backs up alright, even up hill. I put the ad on craigslist last night with a price tag of $1100, and have gotten a lot of calls. Then I went out and found the tranny was "sick", and I've lowered it to $850 just to get it sold. (The wife has laid down the law about "that car on out in front of the house".) Any tips or ideas from the experts?? Thanks, folks. Lee

kerry · #2 12-19-2011, 04:31 PM

Check your accelerator linkage.

Dave Donaldson · #3 12-19-2011, 04:47 PM

(The wife has laid down the law about "that car on out in front of the house".) Any tips or ideas from the experts?? Thanks, folks. Lee

lol when me wiffy said that to me I moved it to the back yard :}
have you checked the shifter linkage,, at the tranny,

showme · #4 12-19-2011, 04:48 PM

I checked it, but didn't see anything funny. What should I be looking for?

Zacharias · #5 12-19-2011, 05:07 PM

With the car not running, have someone sit in the car and push down on the accelerator pedal while you watch the linkage move, specifically the vertical linkage that directly connects to the injection pump.

Chances are good that you're pushing on the pedal, but the message isn't making it through the linkages to the pump.

showme · #6 12-19-2011, 05:55 PM

I was watching the throttle linkage through the windshield (with the hood open I could see it), and it seemed to be moving ok. I also checked the kickdown switch, and it seems to be working. One thing I know is that when I picked up the car, the linkage was off because the PO had the vavle cover off, thinking he had blown the motor. Unless I just missed something, it can still get me around the block, but it's just not shifting. (But it DOES go into reverse just fine.)

kerry · #7 12-19-2011, 06:03 PM

How many rpm's when it's not shifting?

showme · #8 12-19-2011, 06:21 PM

Good question, Kerry. I'll have to go out and take it around the block again to find out.

vstech · #9 12-19-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showme

I was watching the throttle linkage through the windshield (with the hood open I could see it), and it seemed to be moving ok. I also checked the kickdown switch, and it seems to be working. One thing I know is that when I picked up the car, the linkage was off because the PO had the vavle cover off, thinking he had blown the motor. Unless I just missed something, it can still get me around the block, but it's just not shifting. (But it DOES go into reverse just fine.)

this is not good enough.
you must stand beside the car, and watch the linkage actually move, and see how far it moves.
there is a throttle stop screw that the IP linkage has to hit at full throttle.
verify that the linkage makes it to the stop when the pedal is pressed to the floor.
I bet it's not connecting properly. one time I had the linkage bracket that attaches to the valve cover bolts back out, and the linkage was just pivoting the bracket, not moving the IP linkage.

showme · #10 12-19-2011, 11:07 PM

Thanks, vtech! I'll get the wife to pedal-step tomorrow while I watch it. I've got a "prospective buyer" that assures me the tranny needs rebuilt and I should give it to him for $500. He seems to know everything about why it should be toast, but nothing about how to actually work on these engines. So now I'm really wanting to fix it. (On the other hand, I don't want to work on it again, ever). I'll check these things out in the morning. At about the same time I found out about this problem, I get five calls from people really wanting it at $1,100, (assuming it was able to function), then my brother calls and says he's finally ready to move to his new home--today (I volunteered to help- it was supposed to be finished in October), and it turned from warm and sunny to warm and raining. I feel like I'm spread thinner than a road kill snake today.

vstech · #11 12-19-2011, 11:11 PM

as for the low baller, inform him the scrap yard will take the car for just under 600, and to go away.