Strange reversing brake, any ideas?

[silverback mike]

Sounds odd I know, and intriguing me....

Anyone have knowledge of the workings of automatic gearboxes????

Basically, when I reverse it feels like a brake is engaged, the car doesn't run back at all, I have to depress the accelerator and 'aim' at the space

Any ideas??

Thanks, Mike.

Oh, the car is an old W124 Mercedes E class.

[freecar]

Does it do it if you park facing uphill and allow the car to roll backwards in N? Does it roll backwards properly? If it does that would certainly point to transmission issues!

[Parrot of Doom]

Check the ATF level, it may be low.

[Egbert Nobacon]

silverback mike said:

Sounds odd I know, and intriguing me....

Anyone have knowledge of the workings of automatic gearboxes????

Basically, when I reverse it feels like a brake is engaged, the car doesn't run back at all, I have to depress the accelerator and 'aim' at the space

Any ideas??

Thanks, Mike.

Oh, the car is an old W124 Mercedes E class.

Hi Mike,

Is it worse when the car is warm ?

My old 300TD did that and was much improved after a fluid and filter change.

As an aside, mine had a vacuum adjustment for the gearbox which you could alter to improve the smoothness of the gearbox changes. If you've got a thumpy/jerky box it makes an amazing difference.

[fluffnik]

silverback mike said:

Oh, the car is an old W124 Mercedes E class.

Lots of revs for very little movement?

Time for a 'box overhall or a one way trip to the auctions...

...based on brief 300TE experience.

[Parrot of Doom]

Definitely, its often a job that gets overlooked. I bought mine at 163,000 miles, it'd never been done. The old stuff looked like used engine oil.

[silverback mike]

Thanks folks, as informative as ever
I'll check the fluid levels, hope the old girl isn't on her way out. Damn good car

Oh, and it doesn't run backwards on it's own at all even when facing aft downhill. Great cheek clenching when in a tight car park though.

Edited by silverback mike on Tuesday 16th November 21:57

[tr7v8]

Sure it isn't a handbrake issue? That sounds more likely.

[morgrp]

sounds like handbrake shoes to me

[TallPaul]

I'd guess at a siezed or badly routed handbrake cable. When the car moves backwards, it raises the rear suspension slightly, this can often cause the cable to operate the handbrake.
Vauxhall Vectras (and Astras to a lesser extent)had the opposite problem, park the car facing up a slope and the handbrake linkage would release slightly as the rear suspension raised up- park on a slope, pull the hand brake, get out of the car and watch it roll down the hill!

[silverback mike]

The handbrake issue would make sense and it's what it 'feels like'
Thanks for the help chaps

[Doofus]

Any W124 owner will tell you that in reverse, the accelerator is either off or on. They all do it.

Nothing...nothing...nothing...Waaaaah!

[silverback mike]

I've owned five so far and none of the others have

[Doofus]

I've had three (320's), and they all did it. Several other owners also told me theirs did it too...

ETA: I'm not saying you're wrong, incidentally. It's just that my experience is that it's the same with all of them.

And yes, mine were all very well looked after, so it wasn;t ATF levels of anything.

Edited by Doofus on Wednesday 17th November 11:27

[freecar]

If it wont roll backwards in different gear positions then it is not a gearbox issue is it a handbrake issue (most likely) best to strip the rear wheels off and have a look see!

[silverback mike]

Doofus said:

I've had three (320's), and they all did it. Several other owners also told me theirs did it too...

ETA: I'm not saying you're wrong, incidentally. It's just that my experience is that it's the same with all of them.

And yes, mine were all very well looked after, so it wasn;t ATF levels of anything.

Edited by Doofus on Wednesday 17th November 11:27

Didn't thing you were chum, incidentally have checked atf oil, it's fairly new and light red ish so obviously changed recently.
It's only in reverse it does it, and smooth as a smooth thing going forwards. I reckon it must be a handbrake issue then. I'll have it checked.
Thanks to all, I'll update when it's done.