W124 kickdown problems

[Henkka]

Hey, I bought my car around a month ago. It’s my first automatic car so I’m kind of lost here. The car doesn’t switch gear when the pedal is pressed down hard, and it doesn’t accelerate like it’s supposed to when starting from a stop. I can manually switch the gear to third normally when driving, it just doesn’t do that automatically. Could it be the kickdown? If not, then what would be the problem? 230CE 1988. I have a feeling the car starts on the third gear and that’s the reason it accelerates so slowly.

 

[tjamesbo]

Theres a kickdown switch under the accelerator not sure how you check it but suggest a forum search on "kickdown "
slow acceleration many of these autos start in second gear if you select 2 on the shifter from a stationary start it should set off in first you then upshift to 3 and that allows it to change up then knock it back to 2 to hold 2nd or it will change up to third when ready
Not really sure why these cars do that first is quite a harsh start in a merc of this era you generally dont need it unless going down a long very steep hill so maybe yours is starting in 2nd not 3rd select 2 start then 3 then D and count the change ups

 

[Henkka]

Theres a kickdown switch under the accelerator not sure how you check it but suggest a forum search on "kickdown "
slow acceleration many of these autos start in second gear if you select 2 on the shifter from a stationary start it should set off in first you then upshift to 3 and that allows it to change up then knock it back to 2 to hold 2nd or it will change up to third when ready
Not really sure why these cars do that first is quite a harsh start in a merc of this era you generally dont need it unless going down a long very steep hill so maybe yours is starting in 2nd not 3rd select 2 start then 3 then D and count the change ups

Shouldn’t it switch to lower gear when accelerating even if I don’t hit the kickdown? Because it doesn’t do so.

 

[davidsl500]

Might be worth checking the transmission fluid level as a start point. Also might be worth changing it as it may not have been done for a long time...

 

[mioba]

Might be worth checking the transmission fluid level as a start point. Also might be worth changing it as it may not have been done for ever...

corrected

 

[Henkka]

Might be worth checking the transmission fluid level as a start point. Also might be worth changing it as it may not have been done for a long time...

Changed it when I got the car.

 

[Henkka]

And the gears do shift when shifted manually.

 

[LostKiwi]

1988 will be a 722.3 or 722.4 hydraulic gearbox.
They will always start in second unless you manually switch to L on the selector gate or mash the throttle to the floor when starting off (and then only if in S mode).
You could check the kickdown cable is correctly adjusted (cable that runs from the throttle linkage down to the gearbox. Also check both ends are connected....
Before you ask no I don't know what the correct adjustment is but I'm sure it will be on the web somewhere.
Put a pic of the selector lever and gate up. It might help clarify which gearbox you have.

 

[Henkka]

1988 will be a 722.3 or 722.4 hydraulic gearbox.
They will always start in second unless you manually switch to L on the selector gate or mash the throttle to the floor when starting off (and then only if in S mode).
You could check the kickdown cable is correctly adjusted (cable that runs from the throttle linkage down to the gearbox. Also check both ends are connected....
Before you ask no I don't know what the correct adjustment is but I'm sure it will be on the web somewhere.
Put a pic of the selector lever and gate up. It might help clarify which gearbox you have.

Thanks for the help. But the thing is, I don’t think it’s only the kickdown. The gears should atleast to my understanding shift down when accelerating harder even if the kickdown is not pressed. The car doesn’t seem to start in the second gear, but the third.

 

[Henkka]

1988 will be a 722.3 or 722.4 hydraulic gearbox.
They will always start in second unless you manually switch to L on the selector gate or mash the throttle to the floor when starting off (and then only if in S mode).
You could check the kickdown cable is correctly adjusted (cable that runs from the throttle linkage down to the gearbox. Also check both ends are connected....
Before you ask no I don't know what the correct adjustment is but I'm sure it will be on the web somewhere.
Put a pic of the selector lever and gate up. It might help clarify which gearbox you have.

And what do you mean by switching to L?

 

[Henkka]

In addition, the car does seem to downshift when slowing down to a stop, but only once - to the third gear.

 

[mioba]

Had kickdown issues on my W124 after about 12 years, I replaced the switch under the pedal, new original at the time was 12 pounds and work took 15 mins.

 

[DREAMER NO2]

Ithought i had a problem first time i kicked down on my 124 ..But i posted it on the forum and i was told to kick it down hard ..it worked .

 

[Henkka]

Ithought i had a problem first time i kicked down on my 124 ..But i posted it on the forum and i was told to kick it down hard ..it worked .

Tried that. Still doesn’t shift.

 

[LostKiwi]

And what do you mean by switching to L?

May also be called S.

Can you change down the gearbox by manually moving the selector from D -> 3 -> 2 -> S and back up the box too?

If it won't go to 2 the gearbox is needing the help of a specialist.

 

[Henkka]

May also be called S.

Can you change down the gearbox by manually moving the selector from D -> 3 -> 2 -> S and back up the box too?

If it won't go to 2 the gearbox is needing the help of a specialist.

It does go to all of those manually. I have the E/S switch on the left side of the lever.

 

[LostKiwi]

I'm not talking about the E/S switch. It's down next the 2 - push the selector right. That will engage 1st gear.

If it can select all gears manually and but not automatically I still think the kickdown cable could be the issue.

 

[Henkka]

I'm not talking about the E/S switch. It's down next the 2 - push the selector right. That will engage 1st gear.

If it can select all gears manually and but not automatically I still think the kickdown cable could be the issue.

Pushing the lever to the right when on the second gear switches it to second?

 

[LostKiwi]

Pushing the lever to the right when on the second gear switches it to second?

Post a picture of the gear selector.

 

[Henkka]

Post a picture of the gear selector.

Not home right now, found this on google. Looks the same except I have the E/S switch on the left.