Hey there. I've got an automatic 92 240 and have posted with minor issues here before—thanks for the past help.

New issue just cropped up in the past few days + may be related to the overdrive, but let know if it sounds familiar to anyone.

After our third drive cross-country in five months, during which the car did fine, it's suddenly started running strangely. It feels fine at lower + higher speeds, but, when it'd normally kick into third gear, I think, it doesn't and instead revs really high until kicking into fourth/overdrive…which is confusing to me reading through the overdrive problems—I'd think it'd simply not go into overdrive if that was the issue, but it's definitely not shifting correctly between what I count as second and fourth/overdrive.

The problem that I assume is related and further compounds the issue is that, as it slows from highway speed and shifts back down, it'll sometimes suddenly slow down so much it feels like I've quickly pumped the brakes, as if it's again skipping a gear as it shifts down.

Other than all of this, it's running fine. At the very least, we're thankful it's taken us across the US three times in such a short amount of time, but I'm curious how to fix this new issue.

No check engine lights coming on; at roughly 109,000 miles. Thanks in advance.

 

tranny fluid level and condition?

kickdown cable working properly and smoothly with the right slack?

 

Level's good, but, after the 3000 mile trip cross-country, might need a change. Kickdown cable I've read about, but am not familiar with what to look for/do with that.

 

the kickdown cable is attached to the throttle spool next to the throttle cable... it has a little bead on the cable just outside the orange dust cap on the end of the sheathing at the adjuster... this bead shoudl be about 1/16th inch outside the dust cap at idle and there should be a very slight amount of slack. as you step on the throttle (or turn the spool by hand), the cable should be smoothly pulled out of its sheath, and just before full throttle you should feel a distinct 'cam' notch in the pull... when you let the throttle back out, the cable should smoothly retract into the cable without any binding.

this cable serves two purposes. it tells the tranny where the throttle is, which the tranny uses to decide (hydraulically) at what RPMs to shift and how hard, and that notch activates the actual kickdown which forces a lower gear unless you're at really high RPMs. loosening the cable adjustment so there's MORE slack means the tranny will shift later, more relaxed. tightening the cable so there's less slack makes the tranny shift sooner and harder.

the other end of this cable is inside the transmission.

 

Yeah, looks like the kickdown's outta whack (see photos). Think it needs to be replaced or just adjusted?

 

if its not retracting, its busted at the other end, and needs replacing.

 

Yeah, that's its at-rest state, not retracting beyond that point. Mechanic's telling me it'll be three hours of work or so and $300-$400 all told. Sound about correct?

 

yeah, sounds about right. as I said, the other end is in the transmission.

 

Got it. Thanks for all your advice + help!

 

It looks to me like they are not in their place: the throttle cable should go in the right, the kickdown, in the left groove. I can't tell if the kick down is broken bit I doubt it, they usually just stretch. But I'd look into putting them where they supposed be first!

 

I had my kickdown cable break a few months ago, it looked exactly like that, it wouldnt retract.