TimC - welcome to the list -
I too have an '83SD, now with 210k miles. This car has had a 'flare' on the
3-4 shift for the last 20k miles, and it has been diagnosed as a worn clutch
pack. One worn clutch pack wouldn't affect the other shifts, IMO. Getting
the vacuum controls to work right can be a pain, and often the plastic
switch on top of the engine valve cover is a good place to start with your
checks.
For now, I just try very hard to lift my right foot when it goes to shift
the 3-4,and otherwise the tranny works just fine - perhaps too tight on the
1-2 and 2-3 shifts, especially when cold (that's pretty normal, AFAIK). But
its on my list of things to do to get it rebuilt, as I intend to keep the
car for many years.
Werner
'83SD 210k miles
'90D 220k miles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim C" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 10:16 PM
Subject: [MBZ] greetings, newbie here
Hello M-B folks,
My name is Tim Clark and I have recently acquired an 83 300SD. I have a
question on it and a fellow Rennlister (a glance at my email will reveal
my
other automotive "prior commitment" - all 10 of my allotted email
addresses
are in use for the time being, so this will have to suffice) referred me
here, which is excellent as I found the Benzworld forums to be not quite
as
useful as I had hoped. Mr. Dave Gilmore (said R'lister) already replied
with one take on my question, but I'd now like to cut/paste said question
here and see what additional insights are generated.
Original question, slightly edited for this presentation:
I recently purchased an 83 300SD, approx 260k miles. Transmission slips on
2-3 shift - but all other shifts are solid and positive, both up and
down -
and the 3-2 (edit - corrected from "4-3" which isn't the shift in
question,
oops) downshift is also solid. My question is, if only the one shift is
bad,
is this likely to be an adjustment issue? I would expect if clutch pack
wear was involved, other shifts would be off too - in other words, how
likely is it that one clutch pack is toast while the others are totally
fine
(my impression is there are separate clutch packs for each gear - this is
my
first auto-trans car in quite awhile so please forgive ignorance there)?
The
car came with sporadic records (well-documented for a few years at a time,
then nothing for a while), so I'm not sure if anything has been done to
the
tranny - another question is, how long should these go before some service
is required - how likely is it that the tranny may have already received
attention at some point? Finally, if anyone can shed light on how auto
transmissions work/what can be adjusted (pre-electronic trannies that is),
I'd appreciate it much.
Here's Dave's reply to avoid duplication of info:
"Mine does this too when cold. I have read a K-1 spring kit solves the
problem and it can be installed while the trans is in the car. Rusty at
www.buymbparts.com/ or 800-741-5252 likely can provide it. When I first
got my car I changed to Mobile 1 ATF and that almost cured it. I plan to
try the K-1 deal next. Mine has 75,000 on it.
I have read the transmission in these cars usually last about 200,000
miles
before a rebuild, although some people get more. The adjustment procedure
is complicated because of the vacuum interaction. I suggest a fluid &
filter change along with careful adjustment to the MB specs before doing
anything radical. The adjustment does alter the firmness of all the
shifts. That is why I am suspecting the K-1 in our cases."
Oh, and I checked the records I have - the tranny fluid was changed about
7k
miles ago, but no filter - I assume this is just like changing the oil
without changing the filter - basically pointless? So might be a good
place
to start....
Thanks in advance,
Tim
88 944 (reasonably good shape, needs a few things)
83 300SD (needs paint on roof, missing a/c, pretty much everything works,
runs strongly)
