91 300E 3rd gear takeoff (labored)

[Espin]

Hello,

Yesterday my wife reported a sudden onset problem with her 91 300E 264K miles work horse.

The problem is as follows:

Start car , reverse out of driveway works well,(reverse works well under all conditions)

Place selector in "D" and accelerate but the car feels like the emergency brake is on(it's not)

The car can be powered through this "braking" and once moving the transmission shifts and drives normally.

If I put the selector to 2(low) take off is normal and I simply need to return the shfter to "D" or "3" at about the right shift point and it drives/shifts normally. It's like a "shift-o-matic"

If there is a down hill takeoff or if the car doesn't get near a complete stop, leaving the selector in "D" will operate seemingly normally.

It is my impression that while accelerating from a dead or near dead stop,with the selector in "D" or "3" position, the transmission is trying to take off in 3rd gear.

I know the car normally uses 2nd gear for takeoff and I guess thats why it feels normal if I take off manually.

Extra info: when stopped on a hill the car will roll backwards in manual low gear "2", but not in "D"




Any thoughts?

Thanks

E-spin