World's most random breakdown.

[simon_wall69]

In the middle of a long journey to the nether regions of Wales yesterday, whilst waiting for some traffic lights to change, I put the car into D to pull away and there was a bit of revving, a clonk and then nothing happened at all - no drive or s or l or r.

I turned the engine off, started it again, tried D and it worked fine, with some slight clonking when the brakes were applied for about 10 minutes. After this, completed about another 250 miles and the car has worked fine since.

Any ideas what could have happened? This is a completely one off.

I was in the w123 300d.

 

[television]

Ouch that's hard to work out, it does sound gear boxish

 

[simon_wall69]

Ouch that's hard to work out, it does sound gear boxish

It does and also sounds worrying.

 

[television]

It does and also sounds worrying.

I know that it must be worrying to do so, but I think you have no choice to keep driving and see what happens Simon

 

[simon_wall69]

Well, I've checked all the obvious: nice pink fluid, just off max, and it normally changes very smoothly with no flaring or clunks and there are no vacuum leaks on the car. It has only done 70,000 miles as well - although it is 30 years old!

 

[television]

When you had the car in D would, or did the engine rev up as though it was in N

 

[television]

I have got my head around this now and I believe it was the parking pawl that stuck on, this is in the rear extension of the gearbox and easy to get to.

This has been up before, was it Hibo, I know that eric304020 was in on the thread, there is a rod that engages the pawl,it should be easy to find using the word parking pawl

 

[simon_wall69]

I see, that makes a lot of sense.

I'll have a look at it tomorrow when it's light and see if I can find a fault.

Thank you very much for your help - it is greatly appreciated.

 

[dervmerc]

I thought the Auto's were meant to be better than the manuals? Seen a few Auto box problems on here.

 

[television]

I thought the Auto's were meant to be better than the manuals? Seen a few Auto box problems on here.

This is some 30 years old so one cant complain.. Bearing in mind that most MB's are auto, there is very little faults with them.
Do bare in mind that most people only come onto forums when they have a fault.

The BMW forums make glum reading compared to here

 

[simon_wall69]

I thought the Auto's were meant to be better than the manuals? Seen a few Auto box problems on here.

I think 30 years without a rebuild is pretty impressive service; the 560 has done 300,000 miles on her box and an old 190d had done nearly 400,000 on her box without a rebuild.

They really are quite impressive things.

 

[hardtop]

I think 30 years without a rebuild is pretty impressive service; the 560 has done 300,000 miles on her box and an old 190d had done nearly 400,000 on her box without a rebuild.

They really are quite impressive things.

the no of cars with auto is far more than manual so more posts for auto

 

[roadhog]

I thought the Auto's were meant to be better than the manuals? Seen a few Auto box problems on here.

Depends on how you define 'better'

Better to drive yes. A mate of mine bought a C250D manual against my advice and is now looking for an auto as his little left leg can't cope with the industrial strength clutch.

Better built? Not sure but then it is a mechanical assembly and they do go wrong every now and then. It's just that when an auto box goes wrong it's usually a specialist subject and therefore costs a bit.

Agree with Malcolm, nobody ever posts "My gearbox works perfectly..."

 

[maxypriest]

Interesting views on autos. Mine flairs between 2-3, however only at part throttle, with WOT it changes very quickly....No flairing. Valve body problem?!

All other gears are spot on.