I pulled my 87 300SDL into a gas station and had my foot on the brakes with the transmission on drive waiting for a pump to free up. When the pump freed up, I stepped on the gas pedal and the car would not move. The transmission would not engage in any position that I shift to.

The transmission fluid and level looked okay. I checked all connections to the transmission and nothing looks disconnected. Is my transmission dead and needs to be rebuilt? Thanks in advance for your input.

Were you on an angled drive? Check fluid level.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Does that tranny suffer the dreaded B2 piston failure? If so it could be a relatively easy fix.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I would check your B-2 band as well and maybe your flex discs. Don't lose hope!

No, the surface was not angled. Fluid and level is okay.

Skippy, thanks for your input. I googled "b2 piston failure" and what i've read is that reverse should work normally. In my case, the transmission does not engage in any of the positions. I'm going to check it out anyway since the procedure does not seem to difficult.

i'll check the flex discs as well. I'll have to research on the b-2 band. i'll also check the linkages if there are any from the shifter to the tranny. thanks for your input.

Loosen any transmission cooler line fitting that is available, then see if it pumps fluid with the engine running. If not, the front pump is dead. Not a lot of pressure there, but should squirt out like a squirtgun.

Could also be a failure of the modulator, this could also drop the hydraulic pressure.

It sounds to me like a lack of hydraulic pressure/flow, which can be tested externally by a transmission shop, probably fairly cheaply. If so, the two above systems are the most likely, and the modulator is servicable with the transmission in the car IIRC.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Did we get past the point where we might suspect the link got disconnected while in neutral?

-CTH

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I hasn't been asked, because the OP implied that it wasn't shifted out of drive, but perhaps it should be asked.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I haven't gotten dirty yet. Daughter had a volleyball tournament all day. Babymog, you are right. The SDL was in gear with my foot on the brakes. When I stepped on the accelerator, the car did not move. I shifted to neutral and back to drive, reverse and all other positions. Tranny would not engage. I'll report tomorrow what I find out by following the recommendations by the very helpful folks in this forum. Thanks guys!

After living with mine for about 5 years now, I have decided that the trans in my SDL is pretty bullet proof and am betting its going to be a simple fix once you track down the problem. I find it interesting that it just happened with NO warning.
My only problem now after a long drawn out week when I bought it were I had to play with the vacuum system, is that it will pee on ground when I let it sit for a few weeks!
I little fluid on the ground doesn't bother me as long as it continues to perform as well as it does! with 260K+ miles on it!<<<<

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BELEN NM


93 dodge cummins truck~old reliable
01 Volvo AWD XC70 Turbo Wagon
74 450 SE on the way out!
Recent: 1972 Toronado 56k on the clock!

IF it plugs in, lights up, makes noise,
I'M ON IT!