1966 230 Transmission Issue
 

Hi,

I need some assistance on adjusting my automatic transmission for my 1966 Mercedes Benz 230 sedan.

The issue I am having is, when I come to a full and complete stop and then go to accel again it studders and then catches a lower gear. Is it just shifting from 2nd to 1st or is this an adjustment?

The car runs excellent and shifts as it should other than that. I don't want to burn anything up so I am asking in hope to avoid future problems.

The fluid is clean, trans has been serviced regularly and the fluid is filled to the correct level.

Thanks for any input.

If I recall correctly, your car has a first gear start.

I don't believe so, at least my '67 doesn't re: the first gear start. It should start in second unless it's almost floored or the gear shifter is all the way forward into "2".

Your car has a switch on the front carb which controls an important servo on the side of the transmission. With the engine off and the ignition ON, you can move the throttle a hair under the hood and hear the servo make a loud click. If it doesn't click, then that's probably the cause of your stuttering, it may be stuck in "idle/decel" mode. There are three positions to the servo: kickdown for full throttle, normal driving, and idle. It is external, you can see it move on the side of the tranny. (Similarly you should hear it click when the throttle is floored as well)

Come to think of it, there's no reason you can't just sit inside the car with the door open and push the accel a hair to hear the click as well. You can tell you've spent too much time under the hoods of cars when given the choice you prefer to give the car throttle directly at the engine!

Yes, you are correct about the first gear start. I was thinking about the next 230 model.