W124 kickdown

[w124nut]

I've had my car for two years now and as is my style of driving, do not use kickdown. Over the weekend I decided to give it a go to see the result, it did not work.

The scenario was that the car engine was warm (8 miles since starting), I was on the motorway doing 50 miles an hour with the tach reading about 2000 revs. I smartly put the accelerator to the floor, the car surged forward as the speed picked up but I did not get the change down of gear I expected.

The car is a W124 E320 1994 facelift model.

Has anyone any ideas?

 

[turnipsock]

were you in E or S ?

There is also a couple of other things that can influence kickdown.

There is a relay, just infront of the battery that controls some vacuum pipe that goes to the gearbox. (Mine had been damaged underneath the battery, at one time.)

There should also be a switch behind the accelerator that should click when you push the accelerator really hard, I think this activates the relay somehow. You could check that the switch is working, at least.

Also check the fluid level in the box.

 

[GEORGEROV]

Check its not something as simple as the carpet preventing the accelerator pedal being depressed fully!.

 

[Bolide]

Or, more likely, the kickdown cable needs adjusting as it does on 90% of W124s I drive

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[mioba]

i also very rarely use the k/down on my w124

first check the carpet is not not preventing kickdown. had this many years ago !duh - i know!

had a similar problem recently, no kickdown during a recent test.

realised the cover had popped off the kickdown switch, went to dealers and brought a new switch, £14.

very easy to replace, plug and play, most tricky is removing all the carpet lining to get good access, also a good vaccuming at this stage is well reccomended, you will be surprised how much dirt can get around there.

let us know how u go

 

[w124nut]

Thanks for your help. I'll roll the car out of the garage to inspect the various possible causes now that the sun is shining.