Transmission shifting feels odd

[Iron Annie]

My 84 300D Turbo just turned over 228,000 today. As far as I know, the transmission is the origional and it seems to do the job just fine. I feel like the car
"rolls" into the gears rather than "drops" into them like most cars. Is this one of these luxury car items intended for gentle, subtle shifting or is this a bad sign that my tranny is slipping? If I gun it between 1st and 2nd gear it will really show the 1 second delay between gears. I've had transmissions slip because they're dead and this doesn't feel the same. I also had a Pontiac which seemed to "roll" into the next gear like my 300 does.

So: Normal or not?

[blkchambers]

sounds like a vacuum issue with the modulator valve

[Iron Annie]

I still haven't fixed the kick down problem. Perhaps they are related? I've got so many vacuum issues with this car. So the car should bump into gear like most cars? It shifts like my 87 Ponticrap Firebird did. They said it was designed to be smoother.

[Maxbumpo]

It is my understanding that the 'crispness' of the shift is quite adjustable. As long as you stay away from either extreme, should be fine. From the factory, they were adjusted to be quite firm.

Also, I think that the life of an automatic transmission is around 250k miles??? I don't know for sure, as all my cars have manual transmissions.

[VLayton]

My 1981 300TD trans didn't "croak" until 352k, and it can likely be "fixed" simply I've heard....

Adjusting the modulator would be the easiest, cheapest place to start.

Is there any kick down at all? If not chec/replace 8A fuse number 14.

[porkpie]

I just had the same issue on my rebuilt transmission. There are several adjustments but the one you want is under the transmission. It's a pin that pulls out and rotates either way to make it tighter or looser when shifting.

When I would shift it would feel like a manual transmission shifting with a burned out clutch. It would rev a bet before it would grab the gear as apposed to dropping in right away.

Very easy and only takes 30 seconds for a mechanic to do.

Good luck.

[Iron Annie]

I just had the same issue on my rebuilt transmission. There are several adjustments but the one you want is under the transmission. It's a pin that pulls out and rotates either way to make it tighter or looser when shifting.

When I would shift it would feel like a manual transmission shifting with a burned out clutch. It would rev a bet before it would grab the gear as apposed to dropping in right away.

Very easy and only takes 30 seconds for a mechanic to do.

Good luck.

That describes my car quite well. It does it between 2nd and 3rd the most. The harder I accellerate, the more it pauses. I asked the German mechanic I met how much on average it is to rebuild it and he said $1700-$1800. Does that sound correct? It does to me but if anyone knows a better deal, I'm all ears.

[Maxbumpo]

I just inquired about the cost of a rebuild at my Indie, and he said $1500 for an automatic, here in Charleston SC.