Hello,

I am not a car guy at all and just need some help with my 1984 240 DL. I got in my car this morning after starting it and backed out of my driveway in reverse which was not a problem. Well I get out to the street and put it into Drive and nothing, rev it a little and it would engage, well I got half way down the block and turned around. IT will not catch from gear to gear (automatic), it was even having trouble finding reverse the second time. I am on a tight budget so any advise as to what it might be would be greatly appreciated. At first I thought it was the cold, about 25 here in Minnesota.

Thank you

 

I'd check the fluid, be aware its cold , theres 2 sets of marks, one for cold and one for hot, if its close its fine.

Check the linkage, they become sloppy when the nylon bushings wear out, mine are missing.!

Wear warm clothes, jack car up, use jackstands.
Get under and follow the linkage,
Buy a Haynes manual, get some silcone gloves and hand cleaner from the auto part store and try moving the linkage around,
its greasy down there.

If everything seems ok, let the caridle until its warm, the tranny fluid pumps through the radiator and it might warm it up a bit, see what happens.

This photo shows the linkage rod hanging down, the tranny is being dropped for repair.
http://cleanflametrap.com/RearMainSe...0helping02.jpg

Heres a diagram
http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-90...ifter_Is_Loose

Read the FAQ file, it includes troubleshooting.
http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-90...issionAuto.htm

 

You need a new tranny...