I have a '83 300D. The trany always starts in first gear. It should always start in second gear unless the trottle pedal is pushed to the floor. When the throttle pedal is fully pushed in the solenoid in the trany makes a clicking noise. Do I need to remove the solenoid to check it out for correct operation? How is that done? Thanks.

Well you are all wrong about how your tranny works. It should start in first gear. Only gas models start in second.

As to the click, I'm not sure. Is this a sound you here with the key on engine off? I can't imagine hearing a click from a trans solenoid with the engine running at full throttle. If you hear it KOEO (key on engine off) then that too is appropriate. The kickdown solenoid engages with the throttle to the floor.

The car manual says the 300D starts in second gear unless the throttle pedal is put to the floor at start up. When I have the ignition switch on and the engine is not running I can hear the solenoid in the transmission clicking when the the switch behind the throttle pedal is pressed in.

Don't trust everything you read. MB has had many different strategies about first gear, but yours should start in first gear. The 115 body 300D might have started in second with a control pressure down shift.

Your car is a US Turbo Diesel isn't it? chassis number 123.133? It should have a 722.315 tranny.

The trany kicks from first gear to second with a jerk and runs smoothly through all other gears. Can this be adjusted and will it damage the trany if it stays this way? Thanks.

It's real common for the early 722.3 trannies to have a harsh 1-2 shift. It is semi-adjustable by an experienced tech. Actually it is VERY adjustable, its just semi-possible that you can find someone who knows how to do it.

In 1983 there were a number of modifications made to that tranny including a different Band and servo piston with some valve body mods thrown in for good measure. Those parts and appropriate end play adjustments upon rebuilding can make the tranny as smooth as later ones. In the mean time a good tuning of the Vacuum controls and control pressure cable can get most by

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

Steve is absolutely right. As a 150K mile owner of a 300D, I can state that you should start in first gear. Otherwise you would never get going.

He is also right that you need to find the right tech to adjust it. When adjusted correctly, they are barely tolerable. Not a very good transmission.

Chuck

Does starting in 1st gear also apply to the 1978 model? Or did these transmissions start in second? My car starts in 2nd and will only downshift into first if I mash the accelerator pedal to the floor at take of, or I can shift down when completely stopped and make the transmission go into first gear. The car is a non turbo.
Mark.

The 78 doesn't have any vacuum controls to the tranny, but I still think it should downshift to first with a linkage movement. The linkage should move the control linkage to the trans a significant amount before the injection pump starts moving.

This movement should kick it down way before full throttle.

With Steves advice I got my 79SD to shift into 1st all by itself. And without flooring the peddle. Before I talked to Steve my local Trani man had covninced me I was supposed to start in 2nd. What a difference! It took me only 15 minuets to fix a bad conection right were Steve said it would be. Thanks again Steve.
Brett S
79 300 SD 237000K

quote:

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Originally posted by ctaylor738:
Steve is absolutely right. As a 150K mile owner of a 300D, I can state that you should start in first gear. Otherwise you would never get going.

He is also right that you need to find the right tech to adjust it. When adjusted correctly, they are barely tolerable. Not a very good transmission.

Chuck

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Mark,

Non-turbo's start in second gear. I live on a steep hillside and have to "kick" the accelerator to get it to shift into 1st to decend the grade on all three non-turbo cars.