Questions and Answers

Mercedes Benz 300E Locks Up In Reverse
Q. Happy New Year! Without warning, my 1992 Mercedes Benz 300E with 132,000 miles has trouble going in reverse. You can place the shifter in position though theres no physical sensation.

If you give it a little more gas than usual, it will lurch a few feet in reverse but it feels like the brake is being applied simultaneously. Do you recognize this symptom? Do you have enough information to advise me if its more likely to be a big or hopefully small repair?

Thanks,
Mark

A. This is a rare complaint and I have only seen it on the Mercedes Benz automatic transmissions.

Basically what happens is this; there is a washer and spring in the reverse piston inside the transmission. What happens is they bind up against the transmission case. The repair is to remove the transmission, open it up and replace the spring, washer and reverse piston as an assembly.

Added 1/24/06

Thanks again. The transmission has been opened and your remote diagnosis was absolutely spot-on!

Mark