Once in a while my car doesn't want to shift out of first gear. It only happens once in a while. Any ideas?

92 300E 165k

Check your control pressure cable (kick down cable) for a broken plastic adjuster. It is a white threaded piece by your throttle linkage mechanism. My discription is based on my 93 190e 2.6L. If it is broken, the cable will hang and not retract back to normal position. That usually occurs under kick down.
Good luck,
Meza

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Meza
1993 190E 2.6
Advanced Diesel Systems Test and Research Engineer

I'd suggest checking the easy stuff first:

>proper trans fluid level
>up to date trans service (filter and fluid)
>properly adjusted bowden cable
>lubed accel linkage
>proper working/adjusted trans modulator and unblocked vaccuum line

...this is a good start- hopefully more folks will chime in.

let us know what turns out
-fad