1993 R129 300sl transmission slips off the line

[Benz Mondi]

I'm hoping I get some good new from you guys...

for about a month now, when I come to a complete stop and then attempt to accelerate in a normal way, my car will creep along (less than a walking pace) as the rev's build to about 1,800 rpm in about 4-5 seconds. Then I feel it klick (not a jolt) into the next gear and then it goes just fine the rest of the way until I have to come to a complete stop.

I changed both the fluid and the filter last week and found nothing abnormal in the fluid or the filter. No unusual noises anywhere. My car doesn't leak any fluids. No warning lights or smells. It has 117K miles on this tranny.

Perhpas related, I have to always let the car warm up for 5 mins (winter or 100 degree summer) in order for it to not stay in a lower gear as I drive down the street.

What's happening?
What kind of repairs am I looking at?
Does the tranny have to be removed for the repairs?
Just in case, anyone have a deal on a used tranny?

thanx,
Al

[tecqboy]

The 300Sl has a 5 speed transmission which usually starts moving in 2nd gear unless you over-ride and cause a 1st gear start. So, is it 2nd gear that's slipping? The cold engine start / delayed upshift is normal for this vehicle. It is to allow the catalytic converter to heat up more quickly.

[Benz Mondi]

I guess it is 2nd that slips.
I've gone off the line with the shifter at the lowest gear and still had the slip. Perhaps even with the lowest slot in the shifter is actually 2nd?

Any suggestions on what to do to fix?
Can anything be done without having to drop the tranny?

Thanx,

Al

[RadioTek]

I had the same symptoms on another type vehicle when a vacuum fitting failed. There was a vacuum line from the manifold to the shift modulator that had a rubber end break.

Pray it's something that easy, otherwise, you're looking at tranny work/rebuild.

[Benz Mondi]

Now I'm really starting to wonder...

In my previous cars, when the tranny started to have issues there would be a noticable "event" that would trigger a warning that something was going wrong (e.g. crunch, bang, mis-shift, rattle, material in the fluid and pan, etc.) None of these happended with this 1993 300SL. It just started to take longer and longer to get going from a standing stop, especially when at a stop sign on a hill.

Any other tests or diagnostic schemes I can try?

Just in case, anyone know of a good used tranny?

Thanx.

[oldsinner111]

Is it a m104 engine.Mine had a plastic hard line break under the coil cover.Might help?