Great Site! Glad I found it. My 1988 300SE, with 154,000 miles, will not shift into overdrive. Shifting from 1-2, 2-3 is fine. Overdrive will not engage, which results in POOR mileage. Any advice?

 

that's because you got no overdrive.

you have S and W switch?

on S, it will start from 1st gear.

on W, it will start from 2nd gear... that's why your count is missing 1 shift.

 

Thanks for the quick response. However, I'm not following the "S" and "W". My shifter shows:

D
3
2

Maybe I'm confused on that. It was my assumption that the car has a fourth gear.

Thanks.

 

Beau, I have an 89 300 SE and when I first got it I thought the same thing. Mine does not have a S and a W switch. It will always start out in 2nd unless I really floor the accelerator. I still get decent milage in spite of that. Be sure you use only High octane fuel or you will really have other problems.

 

Per a response from another forum:

The SE starts in second gear. First gear is activated by the "kick down switch" located behind the accelerator pedal.

 

the 4rth gear also kicks in at a very low rpm its like 3000 on my 300se it is there its just suttle