'81 mercedes 300d transmission problems

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bandy rooster

bandy rooster

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got around 200k in it. the problem is the trans is what seems to be on its way out, its just not shifting properly. like really really hard shifts. i tried to search on the internet to adjust the kick down rod but read that the transmission actuator is controlled by vacuum and that some kind of a cam gear located above the valve cover is responsible for shifting and some how this gets worn and causes rough shifts... i honestly have no freaking idea, any ideas are welcome...
 
damn junk i thought you were gonna tell me something good, i've been reading for about an hour and half and haven't come up with alot, there MB forums aren't as well put together as this one.

something about blocking off that VCV valve on top of the valve cover that controls the shifts on the transmission... so fxxxing confusing as well as my MB is straight from california. which changes the specs a bit on the emissions.
 
Before you give up on the tranny I strongly suggest that it could be vac. related

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php

mity vac. is your friend.
good luck!

(I have a moth balled '85 300d)

edit in this case the term moth balled means sitting outside in the frozen tundra of NH until I complete my move from MA > VT and get back to working on it...
 
stayalert said:
Before you give up on the tranny I strongly suggest that it could be vac. related

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php

mity vac. is your friend.
good luck!

(I have a moth balled '85 300d)

edit in this case the term moth balled means sitting outside in the frozen tundra of NH until I complete my move from MA > VT and get back to working on it...
Click to expand...

do you store hockey sticks in it?
 
I would guess vac related. 200k is nothing for that tranny if you have half way maintained it.
 
I know what you mean about the hard shifts. My 77 300d, slightly different tranny than 81 I think, was hard shifting. It's all in the rods and vacuum.

I fawked with the feedback rod from the throttle to the tranny, It made little difference. Then I did a 14hr straight drive. On hour 8-9 the tranny was very quick and slid into gear. Infact it shifted into gear waay too soon. I had a problem. I could only drive it with manual shifting.

Well I drive another 14 hrs to get home, 28 total. Was looking at the rods, and discovered the tranny feedback rods fell off. So it didn't allow pressure to build up.

But this hot drive and under load through the mountains did some magic on it. I hooked up the rod and it shifted perfectly.

So I think valves in these trannys also get sticky. I would try running some Seafoam tranny stuff. See if that helps. Also make sure you don't have a vac leak.

mercedesshop.com is a great forum. But is hard to search. And way too many stickies. It's stickies gone mad. :)
 
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