97 C280 Trans problem
 

202 chassis, 104.9 motor
235,000 mi

I'm pretty sure the car has the 722.6 transmission. Had the car since new.
The shift lever pops out of D to land between N and D. The car is still in gear but the shifts don't sound good. If I move the lever to N and pull it sharply back to D, it all gets happy again. I suspect that there's linkage bushing problem. Is there a DIY article on replacing the shift bushings for this tranny? I have the MB WIS installed on my computer but it is the most arcane, unfriendly bit of software I've ever used. Probably why MB has such generous flat rates.

The bushings were replaced a long time ago and the bill was about 150 clams so I figure it couldn't be that difficult to do.

Thanks,
John

Sounds like the shifter bushing.

Is very tight quarters up high on left side of trans. Very little room for hands.

Havent done mine yet. When I do i plan to use 12" long needle nose pliers to get up in there to press the new bushing in place.

I did this on my 2000 C280. The symptom was the shift lever felt way too hard to shift into P. Don't remember if there were one or two bushings but it was a pretty routine repair. On my 1991 300CE, there were 2 bushings and one is done by removing the linkage and doing it on the bench with a nut/bolt/washer/socket combo. The one on the drop down tang of the shift lever is more difficult as access is tight. The C280 bushings are green and a little softer material so not as hard to get in. One tip is to put the bushings in boiling water to soften them.


glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280
1990 LS400

Happened on mine, and while everyone else always swears it's the bushings in these situations, check the BOLT that mates the shift rod itself to the trans housing!!!!!!!

tightening the bolt solved this EXACT issue on my car. Mine was loose