[skilance]

Hello,
I have an 82 300sd. Im not certain that its getting into 4th gear. At 55 to 65 its runnning 25-3000 rpm which feels a little high. Should it be lower? Gears 2-3 feel like mush going through them so I may be miscounting.

 

[Rmac58]

I'll have to verify, but that sounds like normal rpm.

 

[JoeBob55]

That's about right. High gear is a straight through gear, no overdrive AFAIK. Mine runs about 2700rpm @55 mph, about 31-3200 at 70. My car sometimes mushes through 2nd and 3rd also, so I know how you feel. I'm always checking the tach to verify I'm actually in high gear. I always am, unless I've bumped the shifter back...

 

[skilance]

A friend suspected the car idled in 2nd gear when stationary to prevent the car from rolling. Any thoughts to this?

 

[ianrandom]

They all start off in second, at least I know the petrol ones do.

 

[Rmac58]

Mine started in second until I adjusted the ALDA, now, it starts in first.

Depending on accelerator aggression, the tranny will do 2-1-2-3-4, from what I understand.

 

[Frankthemoneyman]

While attempting to find first gear, you should be able to count off all four.
Find a large empty parking lot or deserted stretch of road on Sunday Morning.
Manually shifting through, the console shifter, you should at least be able to hold the car in each gear, except for first, to many variables for kick down not working.

Also, what size tire are you running on your car ?

 

[JamesDean]

300SD's start out in first gear. At least both of my 82' SD's do.

The rpms sound normal to me as well.

 

[mr.metalgear]

hi guys,
any ideas as to why my tranny wouldn't work when I shift it to the lowest? The car just wont move even if I rev it. Though when I put her on drive, all gears seems to work, starting from the stop first gear all the way up to fourth! One told me, just live with it, anyway you rarely need to put her on the lowest gear manually!! Any suggestions.

 

[Rmac58]

I can't manually keep mine in first, second even too, I think.

 

[JamesDean]

Have you checked out your linkage underneath? Perhaps some of the little bushings on it have worn away? or somthing like that?

I've not heard of anyone not being able to engage the transmission in the lower gears via the lever.