2 Questions:
1. how do you determine whether the shut off valve or just the gaskets need to be replaced? Mine takes a while, and there was oil in the line, especially where it connects to the valve.

2. Just changed the trans. fluid. Ran fine prior. Now, it "clunks" into low gear when stopping. This only happens when the car is still cold and when the shift knob is in "D". WHy?
Thanks,

__________________
Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Oil in the vac line can only come from a leaking diaphram in the cutoff or from a leaking pump. If it is only in the line at the cutoff, suspect the cutoff. You can test it by pulling the vac line off, pushing the stop lever down, and then putting your finger over the fitting on the cutoff. If the lever moves up very much, the diaphram is leaking and needs to be replaced.

Check your tranny fluid for correct level, it sounds like you may be low. Make sure you have the tranny warm (some dipsticks are marked for cold, too!), then idle engine after putting the lever in all positions, ending in park. Make sure car is level, too, as if you are nose up or down, it will not indicate correct level on dipstick.

If you filled it and checked level before running the shift lever through all the positions, you may not have filled all the actuators completely, and ended up with a low level after it ran a bit and shifted through all the gears. Ditto for not getting the torque converter completely full before checking.

The other possibility is the wrong type of tranny fluid -- use Dextron/Mercon III or Mobil 1 synthetic, not type A.

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Fluid level on the tranny is perfect. i used Valvoline Durablend (I think it said Mercon V and all the other non-A titles.)

I'll test the diaphragm tonight. Thanks!

__________________
Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Paul:

Also check to make sure you didn't pull the vac line for the transmission modulator off while you were checking the cutoff -- the hose goes to the little box on the IP (or valve cover, I can't remember where it is on the 82). If you did, you will have hard shifts, up and down.

Check the vacuum supplied by the pump, too -- oil in the line can indicate a worn-out vac pump, but it usually doesn't get all the way to the cutoff before leaking out from the ignition swith!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I rechecked the enging compartment vac. lines, they are fine; I havent gotten a chance to crawl under and check if I knocked something off at the tranny down below. Its been way too hot!

As far as oil in the line is concerned, a few weeks ago, it was leeking through the ign. switch. Then it stopped and everything was working just fine. Now, its worse but doesn't leak at the switch. I think I'll just bite the bullet and buy a new valve!
thanks again,

__________________
Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Paul:

Oil at the ignition switch means new vac switch since the rubber is shot and find where it came from, shutoff or engine pump. You may need to rebuild or replace the vac pump -- if you have oil in the vent line to the air filter, it's busted. Low vac from the pump will make the tranny thump.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

"oil in the vent line to the air filter"
Which line is this? What's it look like?

__________________
Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

The "out" line from the vac pump goes to either the intake manifold or the air cleaner housing -- the vac pump is on the front of the engine, directly if front of the IP.

If there is oil at the lower fitting, the vac pump needs repair -- this is especially true of the older ones that used a rubber diaphram rather than a piston. Usually accompanied by low vac.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Peter,
First, thank you for you help and patience!

Now, I just went out and pulled off the vac. line that runs from the trident looking splitter to the key. Plenty of vac. Then I pulled out the line to the shut-off valve. 0 vac (with key off, engine still on). Then I checked for vac. right at the key where the key to valve line connects. Still plenty of vac. Thus, this line only was oiled up. Blew it out, and it worked ok. So, I dont see how the vac. pump could be the problem. Oil is only in the line at the valve itself. thus, back to my original question: leaking gaskets or valve?
would the valve still work fine when plenty of vac is applied if that is the problem? It seems like the oil is only plugging the line an causing the problem. I think I 'll cheat and get a bigger hose!
Thanks again.

__________________
Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Paul:

Chances are there is a leak in the diaphram of the shutoff and oil is getting in there. You need to replace the shutoff (can't just replace the diaphram) -- it will get worse.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!