208D 1990 manual gearbox stuck.
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208D
208D 1990 manual gearbox stuck.
Good day all.
Our otherwise perfect 208D campervan with 28,000 miles on the clock (owned for 28 years) is stuck in first gear.
I don't think there are any electronics.
would anyone like to advise what may be the problem and what can be done about it.
Many thanks,
Growler
Our otherwise perfect 208D campervan with 28,000 miles on the clock (owned for 28 years) is stuck in first gear.
I don't think there are any electronics.
would anyone like to advise what may be the problem and what can be done about it.
Many thanks,
Growler
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 10
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From: San Francisco east bay
1993 400E, 1992 SL500, 2001 CLK320
Manual gearbox
I've had 2 simular problems with Mercedes manual transmissions and what I found was the tranny stuck in 2 gears at the same time. I was lucky enough to release one engaged gear by going through the filler plug and forcing it with a screw driver. Not sure if your problem is the same but it wouldn't hurt to check
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208D
Thanks.
I've looked underneath on the near side (RHD) and found that the plastic bushes at the ends of the selector rods are partially worn and two of them completely disintegrated.
I will replace them and see what happens, but still apprehensive that something deeper inside will require rectification.
I've looked underneath on the near side (RHD) and found that the plastic bushes at the ends of the selector rods are partially worn and two of them completely disintegrated.
I will replace them and see what happens, but still apprehensive that something deeper inside will require rectification.
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208D
Gearbox stuck in first - the answer
Hi all,
All well now.
The sequence of the failure was as follows:
Plastic "bushings" on the three external rods between selectors and gearbox internals deteriorated through age rather than wear (28,000 miles from new).
The bush at one end of the rod controlling first and reverse had disintegrated completely and the rod had become disconnected at one end whilst the vehicle was driving in first.
New bushings fitted, rods refitted and gearbox tested.
Still stuck in first.
Oil drained.
Plate on side of gearbox where the three rods enter gearbox removed to inspect.
Rod for 2nd and 3rd and rod for 4th and 5th in neutral.
Rod for 1st and reverse still in first.
So although the problem had beed cured with new bushes the "apparent" persistent failure was only due to not restoring the rod for 1st and reverse to the neutral position before reassembly.
Finding the neutral position can be achieved by temporarily fitting the arm coming out of the gearbox and moving it clockwise and anticlockwise whereupon the feeling of passing into the right gear will be obvious if the neutral position is correct.
As an extra test a rear wheel (in a rear wheel drive vehicle) can be jacked up and rotated by hand. If it moves freely the rod is in the neutral position.
Refill gearbox with oil, road test.
All well now.
The sequence of the failure was as follows:
Plastic "bushings" on the three external rods between selectors and gearbox internals deteriorated through age rather than wear (28,000 miles from new).
The bush at one end of the rod controlling first and reverse had disintegrated completely and the rod had become disconnected at one end whilst the vehicle was driving in first.
New bushings fitted, rods refitted and gearbox tested.
Still stuck in first.
Oil drained.
Plate on side of gearbox where the three rods enter gearbox removed to inspect.
Rod for 2nd and 3rd and rod for 4th and 5th in neutral.
Rod for 1st and reverse still in first.
So although the problem had beed cured with new bushes the "apparent" persistent failure was only due to not restoring the rod for 1st and reverse to the neutral position before reassembly.
Finding the neutral position can be achieved by temporarily fitting the arm coming out of the gearbox and moving it clockwise and anticlockwise whereupon the feeling of passing into the right gear will be obvious if the neutral position is correct.
As an extra test a rear wheel (in a rear wheel drive vehicle) can be jacked up and rotated by hand. If it moves freely the rod is in the neutral position.
Refill gearbox with oil, road test.
Last edited by growler20hp; Dec 29, 2018 at 02:20 PM.
