tranny problem
 

Mine is a 86 420 sel. It has about 240,000 miles. I have driven the car about 300 miles, about 16 miles per day. Now the car seems to be stuck in 1st gear. Car was always hard shifting into 2nd, but from there it cruised. Car looks great ran ok until this problem. Do you think I am looking at big money to fix? What might be the problem.

Need help fast!

Probably time for a total rebuild with this many miles.

I "think" the belwo diagrams are of your trans (722.3) and that it is controled by vaccum and throttle position like earlier models were.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=126035&M=116%2E965&GA=722324%5F09Y&L=765%2E706&VIN=%2A&CT=GA&cat=09Y&SID=27&SGR=0 01&SGN=01

Qualifier: I dont know this model and am reaching.....The below comments helped a 722.1.

If it was shifting good previously and you've been working in the engine compartment is it poss you've knocked a vaccum line loose or have rubber fittings that have been distrubed or are cracked and leaking? Do door locks work and hold vac for days on end? AC vents open/shut well?

You can tweak softness/firmness of shifts by adjusting vac to trans (see #607). Clockwise = firmer. 1/4 turns at a time only, then road test. Adjusting the bowden cable will change the rpm at which the trans shifts which can help some issues such as flaring.

That said, as was already pointed out, you've got a lot of miles and are def in the range where trans do give up. Yours was a popular model, a lower mileage donor trans may be less expensive than a rebuild.

Disconnect the wire (any one of two) to the kick down solenoid switch under the gas pedal, if that does not work then stuck governor valve or valve body problem. If the fluid smell brunt, internal

Thanks for all your help. What I did first is to check the fluid and yes it needed some (1 1/2 quarts) and that seems to have cured the problem. Now the car drives better than ever! I am going to send it in for a major service. I have porsches and the benz is more additive than either of my other cars. It just looks so classy!