Mercedes: 1 Thing led to another now car wont Start!, mercedes benz 190, shifting gears

Question
QUESTION: First off when the car was given to me as a gift from my brother whom is now RIP.  This car is very Sentimental to me. The shifting Gears on my 1985 Mercedes Benz 190.D Desiel was already loose cause when it would Idiel at a stop light The gear shifter would shake. I was driving to pick up my preschooler and at the stop sign It stopped driving forward, I pulled over and it would not work in any gears at all. I got a second opinon from my neighbor who claims to be a certified mechanic as he asked if I was gonna sell it. Well I had a friend go under it to see if it had somthing to do with the gears being loose. He supposenly had tightend up the gears. But it only got worse to where it doesnt feel the same when I change through all the gears. It now feels like its not hooked up to any thing Flimsy is what I call it. When I noticed this I told him to get the heck away from my car if you do not know what your doing. Since then I havent found the right help I need to even get it diagnosed. So its sitting there for now. I would start it up every other day no problems the only major problem it would not shift. Well just a week ago. I went to start it and it does nothing now, I tried to jump start it and not even a sound. I can see from under my car the linkage just hanging out out of place and an Oil leak right from under it. Its got me wandering if my boyfriend is dismanteling my car on purpose to hurt me. I love this car and am willing to replace what it needs. In the Memory of my dead brother I will not sell it. I dont know where to start. Can you give me some tips to start? So I may get it back on the road? Greatly Appreciated Thank You.

ANSWER: Christine,
Obviously if the linkage is not connected properly to the transmission shifting connections, the transmission will not work. Is this a floor shift or a steering column sift? Did you have any increasing problems getting the shifter to move from gear detente to detente,like gear crunch or rough shifting?

On many clutch shift vehicles, there is an anti-start switch that must be activated by completely depressing the clutch before any power reaches the starter. If the head lights work and radio plays, then this switch or its position in relation to the shift linkage may be the problem.

 I would locate an independent Mercedes repair shop or shop that has knowledge of earlier model standard shift vehicles. Dealers make their profit out the back door repair shop not from the showroom. You will  need to give the year and model vehicle and the fact that it is manual shift.

If you have problems locating a shop, sometimes a call to the local high school or tech school auto technicians program will turn up a knowledgeable person who may be willing to come out and get under the car. You did not say how large the oil puddle is, if it is just a drip puddle, then it may not be a problem. Be sure to check the engine oil level before starting.

Let me know OK.
Good Luck
Rob



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your feed back. My mercedes has a Automatic transmission. The oil dripping is slow not a big puddle but enough to notice. Response: Yes I had rough shifting Before. It used to rattel Then after few months it stopped. I dont smell any burnt smell in the Transmission dip stick. I hope the transmission is not burnt.  

Answer
Sorry if I missunderstood, as I thought you had a strait shift. The automatic transmission shifting is probably controlled by the vacuum servo. If the vacuum pump is not working properly then the shifting would be rough. Or if the modulator is sticking this could cause the same proble.
However, it is important the the shift linkage be properly adjusted as an improper adjustment will also cause shifting problems. And there is a neutral position lockout on the engine to keep it from being started while in driver or reverse. YOu would get no power to the starter if this is the case.
If the linkage is hanging, then this is the first place to check as ths switch needs to be in proper position to allow the starter switch to engage.
If this is red fluid on the driveway it will be transmision fluid, and you should determine from where it is dripping and have that stopped.
Sometime with age and high mileage, the seals around the pan will leak and this can be stopped by just snugging up the pan bolts, but is important to not over tighten as this will make the leak worse.
Or, sometime the torque converter seal will leak, particularly if the vehicle sits long enough to the rubber to dry out. This fix requies removal of the transmission and is expensive.
So, I would have the linkage properly set and then make sure the neutral start switch is properly adjusted.
Good Luck
Rob