99 E300D, Tranny not down shifting?

[scotrvmarine]

Hello all,

1999 E300D. 276,000 miles. Transmission history and service unknown.

Just had a strange thing happen on my way home. Came to a stop sign and went to take back off and it seemed like the trans was in 3rd gear or at least second. Once rolling it was fine but it felt like it never shifted up.

Tried playing with the W S switch with no difference. Tried to force a down shift by using the gear shift when slowing down. No difference.

When I got home I shut the car off and the key didnt want to come out of the ignition switch. Got it out, restarted the car and went down the street and it was perfectly normal. Would seem to be an electrical problem?

I have been planning to change tranny fluid but no dipstick has had me skeptical and I have been too cheap to buy a test dipstick if there is one available.

Any ideas? Oh, the one thing I forgot to mention is that I have been having an issue with the ignition switch. Sometimes when I start the car the sunroof, horn and auto dimming rear view mirror wont work. Figured out that if you wiggle the key in the ignition ( you can hear a click) all will work again. Any connection to transmission issue?

Thanks for any help.
Scot