The 94 E320 I picked up for my wife to drive all of a sudden doesn't want to shift past 2nd. From a stand still it shifts from 1st to 2nd okay, but it doesn't want to get into 3rd.
Any ideas?
I checked the oil level - its good.
color and smell it good too.
Shift into reverse no problem no delay, the same when its put into "D"

 

Go to NAPA or AUTOZONE and pick up a can of SEAFOAM brand transmission cleaner/additive. It is in red and white can. Dump that stuff into the trans and follow the directions on the can. This stuff is the best on the market and may resolve your issue. Sometimes the electronic controlled transmissions get varnish on some of the parts internally and it starts to screw up the shifting. The SEAFOAM stuff will clean the trans internally and hopefully restore it to full operation. I have saved 2 transmissions from using this stuff. For $5 - $7 it is worth trying this first.

 

I would also check the bowden cable attached to the throttle linkage (going down to the transmission) and make sure it moves freely when the throttle is opened. If it is not retracting fully it might cause that problem. The position of this cable is what determines the shift point.

General info: The shift pressure (how firm it shifts) is determined by the vacuum modulator so that is not your problem. These transmissions were controlled by the old-school mechanical cable and vacuum modulator method. It's simple and effective. There is also a cold upshift delay controlled by a small vacuum valve on the left fender well that makes it upshift at higher RPMs when cold to get the catalytic converter warmed up faster and reduce emissions.

 

Shdoug, is there some way to adjust the shift points? I wished mine upshifted sooner.
Good explaination on the cold delay, anyway to change that?
Thanks, Perri