1986 300sdl won't shift past 2nd

[teacherclements]

I've owned a 1986 300sdl for a little over two years with very few problems. The only shifting problem I had occurred right after buying the car from a specialist, and the mechanic fixed the problem (the car had been shifting harshly).

About five days ago I was driving the car and out of nowhere the car stopped shifting above second gear. To get from first to second, the car would go up to about 3500-4000 rpm then shift (not to harshly). When I need to speed up the car refuses to shift to the third gear...it will sit at 4000-4500 rpms and sound like it's on the verge of shifting....but never does. The car won't go over 40 mph.

My brother and I have checked the vacuum system and looked at the kickdown switch. Neither seem to be a problem. I'm not sure if we properly tested the switch, so any advice on that would be helpful.

Also- I was run off the road by a car the other day and the other driver just drove off!!)...about two days before this problem occurred...could this have anything to do with the problem? Or is it just a coincidence? I wonder if something was shaken or broken??

Any other DIY ideas?? If need be I'll take the car to a mechanic, but I prefer to fix the problem myself if possible.

Thanks in advance!

 

[teacherclements]

update

Drove the car yesterday....still the same problem. Any DIY tips before I succumb and take the car to a mechanic?

Thanks!!

 

[xxbxrxextxtxx]

if you find out le me know i have a 1983 300d turbo and its doin the same thing. it revs fine bit getting it over 25 is hard

 

[television]

if you find out le me know i have a 1983 300d turbo and its doin the same thing. it revs fine bit getting it over 25 is hard

As this is an old thread you will not get an answer easily,, why not start a new thread on your fault

 

[xxbxrxextxtxx]

i did and no one has answered i was hoping he would have an idea of what caused his