W123 questions!

[stereophoney]

Hello!

Yesterday i got my first Mercedes, a W123 280e 1981 auto. It's also my first auto box, so i don't really know too much about how they're supposed to work.

When kicking down at 60mph, the car will accelerate to 80mph and then stop, as if it has hit a limiter. It increases as it should if i lift off a little and then put my foot back down. Is this meant to happen?

Also, when putting on full lock in a parking situation, if the wheel is turned too quickly the car will stall. Starts again no problem. Any ideas as to what could cause this.

Finally, just to prove i know nothing about these cars, what does the orange warning light on the dash mean? It came on for about 10 mins whilst driving then went off never to return!

 

[supercharger]

has the car been stood a while before your purchase if so i would give it a good service plugs, leads, dizzy cap,rotor arm, air, oil filter new oil etc. im pretty sure that is normal on the auto box does it change up and down smoothly no noises etc. also worth changing the gearbox filter.there cheap as chips and easy to do.also i,d change the transmission fluid too. what warning light came on did it have a picture on it.


supercharger

 

[stereophoney]

I think it would have been standing a while! Only done 2000 miles since March 06! Had a load of engine work done at the same time as well :-
Head gasket
Head bolts
Oil filter
Engine oil
Anti freeze
Manifold nuts
Chain & link
Weld head
Head skim
Skim manifold
Rotor arm
Can't read these last 2 bits, something like
Valve S_ _ m S_a_s
_ _ _ _ cooling pipe!

Gearbox is smooth. Had to drive it 200 miles to get it home, so it had a good run!

Warning light is orange with a circle, Directly to the left of the parking brake light.

Thanks for your help!

 

[wireman]

It sounds like doing a transmission service is essential on your car. The kick down should force the box to select the lowest accepable ratio to not grenade the engine by over speed, changing immediatly up when max RPM is achieved. Your car may have a rev limmiter in its fuel system which is limiting at a speed below the gearbox change up (3 to 4) speed. Under normal driving the gear changes should be silky smooooth, under stress (kickdown) they may roughen up a bit. An auto box uses the road speed and an engine load measure to determine which ratio to select and when. the gear selection is hydraulic via a sophisticated valve block which engages a number of clutches to select each ratio, the kick down is accomplished by a electrical valve in the box and a switch on the accelerator pedal. There may be a vacuum problem causing the change up delay, a small vac pipe runs from the inlet manifold to the transmission to tell the box what load is being imposed on the engine, if this is detached or blocked gear change speeds will be affected.
The stalling when you apply quick steering inputs is probably too low a tickover speed, the engine speed is reduced by the increased power demand of the steering pump and it stops.
If you want to know about driving an auto box get some reading done, there are lots of good books on driving, Roadcraft the police drivers manual has a section on auto transmissions along with what is and is not safe practice in any vechicle, read and inwardly digest it then you will know what aspects of your driving traffic officers judge you by.

PS
Dont be tempted to left foot brake until you have some experience of the car, It is not a reccomended practice but can be usefull if you dont hit the brakes like you would a clutch (down to the floor).

 

[supercharger]

i think the light then is the brake pad wear light


supercharger