C200 Blue Efficiency Gearbox Issue

[Wildheart79]

Dear members.

I am throwing myself out there to the mercy of you all in the hope that someone can shine some light on an issue I am having with my 2011 c200 Cdi.

During summer, the car was magic but recently, as it's colder, selecting gears in the morning has been a right arm ache.

It's particularly bad for reverse (where it's starting to crunch) and first/second. I am literally using all my energy to get it into first, it's like there just isn't a gear there.

Once the car has warmed up and is sitting around 80 degrees, normal service resumes. She doesn't jump out of gear or feel that there is a loss of power (mind you the last car was a Laguna 1.5 diesel so I'm not basing this on much!!!)

I have recently just had the clutch and dual mass flywheel replaced as the garage noted that there was vibration within the clutch pedal and that this might be causing the issue but sadly, this morning (quite a cold and frosty one) it's been a pig to get into gear again.

I have read some posts on here stating that some gearboxes were overfilled with oil and that this might be the cause of the problem but wasn't sure if this was earlier models or not.

I am heading away for a couple of days but when I get back I would like to go to my mechanic with a checklist of things that I want tried first in order to resolve this issue. I'm not massively technical and my mechanic has been a good friend of the family for years (and a previous Mercedes driver albeit automatics) but he doesn't have access to all the latest Mercedes bulletins.

Any suggestions or experiences in resolving similar issues would at least give me and said mechanic a starting point rather than just throwing good money after bad at it.

Appreciate the time taken to read the above.

Thanks

Craig

 

[tarek]

hi i have c200 1800cc w204 recently i feel like jerk in transmission between firest second transmission

 

[turbopete]

Dear members.

I am throwing myself out there to the mercy of you all in the hope that someone can shine some light on an issue I am having with my 2011 c200 Cdi.

During summer, the car was magic but recently, as it's colder, selecting gears in the morning has been a right arm ache.

It's particularly bad for reverse (where it's starting to crunch) and first/second. I am literally using all my energy to get it into first, it's like there just isn't a gear there.

Once the car has warmed up and is sitting around 80 degrees, normal service resumes. She doesn't jump out of gear or feel that there is a loss of power (mind you the last car was a Laguna 1.5 diesel so I'm not basing this on much!!!)

I have recently just had the clutch and dual mass flywheel replaced as the garage noted that there was vibration within the clutch pedal and that this might be causing the issue but sadly, this morning (quite a cold and frosty one) it's been a pig to get into gear again.

I have read some posts on here stating that some gearboxes were overfilled with oil and that this might be the cause of the problem but wasn't sure if this was earlier models or not.

I am heading away for a couple of days but when I get back I would like to go to my mechanic with a checklist of things that I want tried first in order to resolve this issue. I'm not massively technical and my mechanic has been a good friend of the family for years (and a previous Mercedes driver albeit automatics) but he doesn't have access to all the latest Mercedes bulletins.

Any suggestions or experiences in resolving similar issues would at least give me and said mechanic a starting point rather than just throwing good money after bad at it.

Appreciate the time taken to read the above.

Thanks

Craig

there was a fix where reducing the oil level by about 200ml was the cure, but i cant remember whether it affected the manual gearbox in the 204, or just the manual 203. other than that, it sounds as though something hasnt been set up quite right in the gearbox/clutch area, either the link rods have slipped slightly (or the bushes are worn, another common issue on well used linkages) or the clutch hasnt been correctly adjusted or bled (if the hydrauclics have been opened)
im not overly familiar with the 204 set-up but im pretty sure theres no adjustment on them as they have a fixed actuator rod length and hydraulic clutch, rather than adjustable rod or cable mechanism.

does the clutch pedal feel like it should? smooth, no loose travel, etc

 

[ernieh]

It sounds as though the drive isn't being fully disconnected when the clutch is disengaged and certainly the oil level could be the problem.

Going back to the days before DMfs, the clutch pilot bush in the flywheel could cause similar problems, if, for example it run dry (they were sintered bushes) and the input shaft couldn't free wheel in the flywheel when disengaging the clutch...don't know about new cars, though.

As above, I'd look a the oil level first.


Ernie

 

[television]

There are no oil level updates on a 2011 car,it should be clutch not fully disengaging maybe. I hate mercedes manual boxes.

 

[turbopete]

I hate mercedes manual boxes.

i dont

i wonder if the gearbox oil was drained and refilled with the wrong grade? unlikely it would be drained though.

 

[Wildheart79]

Thanks for all who have replied.

TurboPete. With regards to the clutch pedal. The bite point is very low, as in move your foot half an inch from the floor and your there. Also there isn't a huge amount of travel in it either. Compared to my last car when changing gear meant bring my knee up just below the steering wheel, now I can change gear by just bending my foot at the ankle.

The mechanic did mention that when he bled the system and refilled the brake fluid that the bottom of the reservoir was pretty black. He said he could of cleaned it but this sometimes can cause an issue with reseating it on the master cyclinder?!?

Do you think that the above might be linked.

Once again, appreciate the support and television, your not the first person to have said that to me recently. Beginning to wish I had plumbed for the auto myself.

 

[Wildheart79]

Update

But more information chaps.

Just went to my car this morning and she refuses to select any gear.

However, if I hook my foot behind the clutch pedal and pull it backwards (ie towards me as the driver) and then push it all the way back down again, she selects every gear just fine???

In my basic understanding, is this basically allowing more clutch/brake fluid to be used and therefore allowing gear selection?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Based on the last one, its likely you have a leaking clutch master or slave cylinder.

 

[turbopete]

Based on the last one, its likely you have a leaking clutch master or slave cylinder.

agreed. it seems to be a hydraulic issue, meaning the clutch isnt beng operated as it should, hence the stiff gear changes/failing to go into gear

 

[umblecumbuz]

If either master or slave is leaking, there may be a drop in fluid level. This should really show up with a warning light, but is worth checking manually.

The master cylinder can leak internally (ie - fluid leaks past the plunger) and this might not show up as a drop in level. One easy test is to pull the clutch pedal right back, checking that the gears engage easily, then depress it and hold it down for several minutes. If after doing this the gears become difficult to engage, that will confirm that you have a leak - either internal or external.

 

[Wildheart79]

Firstly, that's everyone who has replied.

Don't think it's then slave cylinder as this was replaced when the clutch and dual mass fly wheel were both done.

I'm just glad at the moment that I have narrowed it down to firstly having a work around solution and secondly, to it being more than likely related to the hydraulic side of things, be it bleeding the system or replacing the master cylinder.

I will give it back to my mechanic next week and ask him to start looking in these areas. I will report back with the outcome just in case someone else has had similar issues.

Again, appreciate the support.