Gearbox gets stuck while driving

Andrei Borsa

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Hi group. I have a MB CLS320 from 2006 that has some problems with the gearbox. It gets stuck sometimes in N, 1st and 2nd possible the 3rd (as far as I've seen driving through London) and when I park I felt like a kick when changing from D to R and from R to D. This happens now and then and the 'stuck in gear part' is starting to happen more often as the days are passing. When this is not happening the gearbox is very smooth and I can hardly notice when is changing gears. If I'm stopped at the traffic light and I put my foot in to it sometimes it feels like is choking giving me shocks. I suspect the oil in the gearbox hasn't ever been changed but I'm afraid of being something more then that or a sensor or something else in there that might need changing. I've been to MB Loughton dealership for an diagnosis check and they said that I need the control unit and O2 sensor changed (just £2500) but I haven't received a diagnosis sheet or codes or anything like that from them so I'm thinking rip off. I just want to see if any of you might had the same probleme or would be able to recommend a good mecanic in London or just what the problem might be if either of you has encountered this in the past? Thank you
 
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Andrei Borsa

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I don't know because I've only bought the car 3 weeks ago and the guy that I've bought it from didn't say that he has changed it. I don't have any record of service history of it... It has 111k miles... If that helps.
Thank you
 

Flyinspanner

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Find out where your nearest respected independent specialist is located, and get a second opinion.

Did you buy from a garage? - report the fault. Ask them to fix.

If you bought privately you will still have recourse via small claims court.
 

rifiki

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Agree with Flyinspanner, get the codes read with STAR, could be expensive repair.
 

umblecumbuz

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Did the MB dealership just read the codes to come up with their diagnosis, or did they actually check the level and state of the gearbox atf?

I would suggest doing that for starters. It's a low cost action (you can do this yourself if you're mechanically inclined).
 

grahamcol

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I'm thinking the well known electroplate fault. A star diagnosis by a good independent Mercedes specialist should be able to confirm. If it is this then the total bill, including new fluid & filter should be around £400 / £500.
 
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Andrei Borsa

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Ok then... STAR check needs to be done. Question thought...I've been to MB showroom and they said they only give the customer the diagnosis report only on customer's demand (silly thinking taken in consideration that I've paid for it). I didn't know that when I picked up the car so I called them the second day. They've told me that they need to talk to the management team, but they should be ok for me to go and pick it up starting Monday morning. On that report should say the code of the error...if they've done the diagnosis (which I doubt it honestly) We'll see tomorrow what happens.... Thank you
 

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I'm thinking the well known electroplate fault. A star diagnosis by a good independent Mercedes specialist should be able to confirm. If it is this then the total bill, including new fluid & filter should be around £400 / £500.

The cost could be more if the valve body needs to be replaced, early 7speed boxes tend to need the whole lot. A star test along with the ehs number will determine this.
 
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Andrei Borsa

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Well that has been quoted to me by the MB at about £2500... Control unit and O2 sensor. But I don't understand how can they say that... If no code appears on the quotation and in the dashboard no transmission error lights or any kind of lights came on...I will get a second opinion before a decide apending a lot of money on the valve body... Thank you
 

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No lights appear in dash with a tcu fault, O2 sensor is a common fault and will not affect gearbox.
 
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Andrei Borsa

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Do anybody know and can recommend a service in east London that I can get a 1nd opinion from re this fault? Or a service with a STAR tester? Thank you
 

grahamcol

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The cost could be more if the valve body needs to be replaced, early 7speed boxes tend to need the whole lot. A star test along with the ehs number will determine this.
Sorry, I was thinking the car had the 722.6 box.
 
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Andrei Borsa

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How can I find out which model the box is? Thank you
 
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Andrei Borsa

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Cheers for that...
 

charlysays

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First and foremost check the fluid (get a dipstick tool off ebay and follow procedures found on this forum).... if it's the wrong level rectify this and see if the fault persists. Then have its codes read on star.

My car had similar symptoms to yours and there were no codes to be found so I concluded it must be a mechanical fault or a valve body issue since the ATF was clean and the right level.
I drained 750ml of fluid out (I'd recently done a full service on the trans) and topped back up with a bottle of Lucas Transmission Fix. This was 15,000 miles ago and it's still functioning normally.

It's due a change again in 5k miles and I'll put in another bottle of LTF then. I can only assume that a valve was sticky or something and the "polymeric" film or whatever in the LTF has eased it.

The only symptom I get which doesn't feel quite normal is an slightly harsh 3-2 shift but its not consistently harsh. No banging in any case.
 


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