202 Feels a bit wrong when cold

rdmstewa

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Hi all
Just bought a '98 202 C240 auto with apparently genuine 46k on the clock. It's very smooth and drives well except when starting away from cold. Where I live that involves going more or less straight up a hill, and I wouldn't expect the car to even try for 4th gear until I'm more or less at the top. Thing is, it doesn't seem to know what gear it wants to be in on the climb. Shifts up to second OK, but ought to reach third - it tries, but then drops back again. So it's pulling more revs than it needs to. Altogether a bit jerky and unpleasant. Once it's warmed up, it's fine. Both the wife's 204 and my 211 7G-tronic are perfectly OK, and do exactly what I'd expect, you don't even feel them change gear. So I'm wondering if I've bought a problem - wouldn't have thought the gearbox could be shot at 46,000, but maybe someone out there might put me right! Also, car has only done about 4,000 miles in last four years...does it just need using a bit?
Many thanks in advance!
Cheers
Malcolm
 
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television

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Hello and welcome.

Not easy to know on this, I would certainly get the fluid changed in the gear box as this would never have been done.
 

grahamcol

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Congratulations on the purchase of a v6 202. Fine cars and often very underrated.
I have a couple of thoughts for you. 1) These cars like to hang on to the lower gears until partially warmed up - the manual tells you something about this. 2) the mileage is low but I'm just wondering whether the plugs and leads are in good condition ? I guess they should be, but you never know.
I hope you get it running properly when cold. They really are very nice cars and assuming the body is good and not rusty, you'll have a car capable of lasting many years.
Good luck.
 

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It could be the air mass not functioning correctly.
 

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It could be the air mass not functioning correctly.

I was going to say that, buy not that sure of its effect Mercedes and on a cold engine, it certainly played havoc on my V70R from a cold start.
 

grahamcol

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I had the MAF in the back of my mind too but the op says it only struggles when cold, so I dismissed this. Maybe they can cause the engine to only play up when cold then !
 

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also, could it just simply be that the OP is used to driving the 7G box now and the latest addition has a 5 speed (different ratios etc) which will naturally behave differently?
 

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I just though of what the problem is, I think. Cars of this vintage were set up to hang on to the low gears to warm up the CAT as soon as possible. My old 129 with the 112 would do this, and normal. It was eased off in later versions as so many complaints. This forum had many complaints and threads about this years ago.
 
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rdmstewa

rdmstewa

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I think it may be me...

Hi Folks
Thanks for all your advice. I think the point about heating the CAT up is relevant. I'm probably not handling the throttle very well, and yes, I am used to the 7G box. Mind you, the wife's 203 has a five speed box as well, but it's newer... The car's gone in for a service (and it's going to cost LOTS:(), but I've had no report of a failed MAF. Just lots of other stuff...
Cheers
Malcolm
 

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