280sl automatic transmission problems

[al11]

Hello,
After parking in a slight uphill I noticed that my car was rolling backwards although it was in the P position. I tried to start the car again in the P or N position but all I heard was a click. After following a friends' advice to play a little with a cable that ends one the firewall the car fired up again in the P position. I was happy to see that the car moved forward as I engaged the gear but it failed to show that little burst forward while you are pressing the brakes down and going from P to Drive. I tried to engage it in reverse but unfortunately it still went forward. I had the car towed home and I managed to push it back inside my garage while the gear was still in P! Any suggestions?

[doitwright]

Did you check your driveshaft?  Could be your flexdisk was worn and finally gave way from the torque on the shaft when parked on the hill.  If that is it, not expensive to replace.  I believe ther is one at each end of the driveshaft.

Frank Koronkiewicz
Willowbrook, Illinois

1970 280SL Light Ivory

[ja17]

Hello al11,

Sounds like the bushing on  your linkage rod between the automatic and the shifter has failed.  Remove the rod (from below) and replace both plastic bushings #112 268 0150 and re-install the rod. Be careful to make note which direction the bushings should be installed. You will may need to re-adjust the cable when fininshed.

Installation of the bushing is easier if you warm them in hot water or carefully with a heating gun.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[J. Huber]

Just to add a little insight into Joe's diagnosis (seeing as how I've been there!). If it is the bottom-most bushing that has failed, you will be able to see the linkage rod poking out from under the car. As a temporary fix, I put the linkage rod (sans bushing) back on the transmission rod (its right there), and clamped it on with a mini vice grip. This allowed me to drive the car to my mechanic.

Another helpful hint is to check the new Tech Manual. There is a nice write-up of the automatic shift gate -- which also shows how to replace the upper bushing and reinstall the linkage rod. Here is a link: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=TransmissionClutch.Shifter#Linkage

Good luck.


James
63 230SL

[bsimaz]

This also has happend to me.  Lower bushing just came off the shifter.  I put on the parking brake, crawled under the car and put it in gear ( I know, but I was stuck 12 miles from home with no way back), and drove home.  The bushing goes on fairly easy following the correct procedure.  Can't remember which off hand but the either the bushing goes on the shift lever first then on the transmission lever or vise versa.  I know one was is about an hour and a half of skined knuckels and swearing and the other is about 15 seconds and relief.  Also if you replace one replace the other.   There is another up higher by the shift lever.  When ones goes the other is not far behind.  I was told to do that and learned the hard way.

Bill Simaz
'66 230sl
Back on the Road

[al11]

Many thanks gentlemen for your help, I'll be flying back to France where my car is in December and I will follow-up  on your suggestions . Does anyone know a reputable mechanic in the Nice or Cannes area of France.

[TheEngineer]

It's easy to crawl under the car when you park the right side wheels on the sidewalk. The gutter is excellent to lay in.

[Cabo Bill]

How do you know if the spring on the shift gate is installed properly? I don't want to put it all back in and find out it's wrong!