Hello all. My daughters 1996 E300 runs and drives like a sewing machine with 302000 miles! However, today it suddenly developed a shift problem. It will only shift from 1st to 2nd, but wont go into 3rd or beyond. Just for kicks I disconnected the vacuum modulator and that causes it to "slam" from 1st to 2nd, but still wont shift beyond. Moreover, just for kicks, I unplugged the kick down switch and this had no effect at all. The tranny does have a dipstick and is at the correct level and the fluid is quite clean with no burn odor. Up until now the tranny has functioned perfectly with no signs of slipping or hard shifting. It just simply wont shift beyond 2nd gear. Lastly, there is a code P0713 Transmission Fluid Temp Sensor A circuit High Output. My next step is to get it up on ramps and examine and maybe unplug this sensor to see what happens. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Finally, this car is the older 4 speed transmission not the 5 speed with winter/summer switch mode.

the speed governor maybe hanging up in your case, A little try can be adding a bottle of lubegard red and driving around. My W124 developed this one morning for about 10 minutes and corrected itself, I changed the ATF 2 days later.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Well......Trying to keep this boring thread alive. I just drained and changed the fluid and filter on principle...including the torque converter. For 302000 miles I didn't feel that the fluid or filter was that dirty....I cut the filter open. Unfortunately it made no change in the shifting at all. As far as the suggestion by ZULFIGAR to remove and inspect the governor....That is next. I have read that they can get "sticky" and be cleaned or they also can outright just fail. I would like to know if anyone knows for sure if it can be removed in-situ. It looks like you can tilt the tranny down and sneak it out but I would think it would damage the motor mounts...I guess you could loosen them? Keep you posted.

try the lube gard snake oil first - the little red bottle, it has worked for me on Toyota and GM transmissions where it freed up sticky situations.

Another thought is that the shift linkage, does the engine hang off the engine rpm governor if you floor the pedal? Does it shift 1-2 at full rpm only.

Which makes it sound like its driving in 2 rather than D

on the other hand

check this thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/327394-722-4-transmission-now-shifts-first-fourth.html

you will find the chart that shows the band and clutch apply chart for your transmission too.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)