If they won't work on it with the transmission in place, tell them to cut a hole in the transmission tunnel and work on it that way.

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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

The misfire, etc. on the 300E sounds like a cracked intake manifold...about $300 (new) to replace.

Mine had the same symptoms, and the crack occurred after an overheating condition due to the head gasket breach...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Oh goodness I sure hope not . Its tough to tell, It started running okay after it warmed up, I'm really keeping my fingers crossed as I need it to get home tonight. I also noticed the rubber breather hose from the VC to intake manifold was dried and cracked. I jostled it around a bit and seemed to make a difference. Loosened it up and the car wouldn't even fire. I've got to break out the DMM this weekend and do some CIS diagnostics.

Edit: I agree it seems like an AFR problem though, just going to replace the hoses and cheaper fatigued stuff before the big job.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

A car should be "driveable" with a broken B2. It must be something else.... worse even.

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Really? I was under the impression that a broken piston would not allow any pressure to build. I guess it might depend on the break? A "snagging" B2 would be driveable, a lot of times there are grooves cut in the bore of the transmission and/or piston itself that get caught. I think a clean break would make it completely undrivable. Its definitely hydraulic-related rather than a broken gear, stripped bands, etc. There are no weird sounds or anything coming from the trans when in drive, like debris flying around, broken band, or broken shafts. It just won't shift out of neutral. The only other thing I can think of would be a blowout of the valvebody or something. I've already ordered the B2 and associated seals. Guess we'll find out!

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Well, some good news. My 300E is running very well again. Looks like it was the breather hose from the VC to the air cleaner that was leaking and leaning the thing out. I've ordered a new one, but I was able to adjust it and make the 50 mile trip home without the slightest hint of trouble. Looks like the head is okay too, no weird smoke, good oil pressure, no oil in coolant/vice versa (checking again tomorrow) and its running just as it did beforehand. Dodged a bullet, damn good thing I keep my eye on the gauges or I would have grenaded the thing. A friend of mine has offered his driveway for the B2 piston replacement, so that is another positive. I just need AAA to tow it across town.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth