Auto Transmission Starting in First Gear

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by cth350

The way you bypass the "start in 2nd" feature is to manually shift down ...

I'm suprised there's no simple way to bypass this.  I don't know squat about transmissions, but I figure since it starts in "1" when the lever is in "2", then that "gear shift position sensor" must be electrical or mechanical.  Can't you just modify something so the transmission always thinks the sifter position is in "2", but doesn't limit you to just the first two gears?  Thay way you always use all 4 gears in your automatic!  Anyone do this?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[ja17]

Hello rodd,
I think Tom Sargeant has already performed this modification. He has a switch in the car when he wants to start of in first gear.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Tom]

Joe,

Good memory.  I have a small button on the front of the console tray that activates the kickdown switch when I press the button.  The accelerator has to be slightly engaged for it to activate, but it works great.  Gernold installed this when he installed the 3.27 rear end so that if I needed a lower gear, I would not have to shift the lever.  

Best,

Tom

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[Khurram Darugar]

Wow thats very CooL!!

Kay
Euro 280sl LHD Auto.

[Cees Klumper]

For those of us with a more conventional differential (3.69 - 4.08 for example) starting out in first gear is not really that great: it will shift into second almost immediately after the car gets in motion - first is very short. But if like Tom you have a 3.27 or similar, it is probably a very welcome feature. Of course, it should start out in first even with the lever in 2, if you floor it.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[TheEngineer]

I installed a 3.27 rear axle and find that starting in 2nd gear is quite satisfactory most of the time. But I'm an old guy and drive easy. Sometimes, on rare occasions, if I really want to have a screaming start, I floor it. Don't do that when the road is wet! And consider that it is dertrimental to your fuel economy.