'83 300D Tranny problem
 

Was coming across the Golden Gate Bridge in drive, and just past it, had no more power, as in the tranny would not engage. I had fuel, and it will start but no longer engage. Now grinds when I put it in park. Anything obvious I can check, or does this sound like the transmission gave up the ghost? There was plenty of fluid on the dipstick.

New transmission is $2425 installed. Ouch! 245,000 original miles on original transmission. Car ran great prior to this! It just seemed odd that there was no warning signs, or slippage.

Thanks for any insight and advice!

first inspection
 

Thanks for the suggestion. I have it parked in a public garage at the moment, and i didn't have a flashlight to do a thorough inspection. I did however reach up between the cross member where there is a mount, that was completely disintegrated, and also a hard plastic coated copper wire that was severed. Any idea what that wire is?

So a flexplate/disc can cause the tranny not to engage? Thanks for that info. I'll be checking it early tomorrow morning.

2nd inspection
 

Well, with the flashlight, I could see no apparent flex disk damage, but when I put it in gear the speedometer did indeed move. I revved up the motor so that speedometer went to around 50mph. So this will not happen unless it is a flex disk, or plate?

I appreciate your input tremendously! Thank you!