Unable to select gear manually on CLS500 (219) 2007

AndyTee

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We have a CLS500 (5.5 V8) with auto gearbox but have never been able to select the gears manually but now Im on a mission to sort it. The gearbox works 100% smooth in C or S settings however if I try and nudge the gear lever (no steering wheel paddles) to the left or right when in drive the car remains in auto with 'D' shown in the instrument cluster.

Ive done some searches on this site and not found anyone with a similar fault although a few years ago I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee and these were famous for having the same issue which was usually resolved by cleaning the contacts in the gear selector. Has anyone had similar issues with there Mercedes??

I've checked for fault codes with a DSB2 tester (Icarsoft MB Ver2) and no codes present in transmission section. I can see the gear position on the OBD tool but when nudging left or right it still doesn't change on the OBD tool either. When my son took it into Mercedes for a service he asked them to look into the gearbox issue but they just came back saying it changed up and down smoothly which we know already but they didnt address the fault and Im loathe to give them a load more money if I can help it.

Any suggestions of remidial action or areas to check would be much appreciated. Its an absolutely awesome car with endless power but I just want it fixed to make it perfect.

MAny thanks in advance, Andy
 

John Laidlaw

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Welcome Andy, certainly a selector issue
Best advice would be to get the car to a Mercedes independent specialist, not MB dealer and get them to do a proper Star diagnostic- where are you based ?
 

alexanderfoti

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Indeed. First thing to check would be the selector actual values to see if they are being seen. I carsoft should be able to show it on the selector module?
 

John Laidlaw

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You can Alex if I remember correctly
 
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AndyTee

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Thanks guys. I've looked using the Icarsoft and it doesnt show the selector moving at all to a manual gear. ie. When I start it it shows P in the icarsoft and R if I select reverse, N if I select Neutral and D if I select drive however when in drive and I nudge it it doesnt show either 1 or 2 it remains showing D for drive.
I'm based near Aberdeen and not aware of any Mercedes specialist apart from the main dealer who was supposed to look at it before. I dont know how to dismantle the centre console to get to the selector mechanim either and cant find a youtube clip.
 
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alexanderfoti

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I think there should be a seperate actual value for Tip + and Tip - rather than the selected gear changing, but I could be wrong.
 

John Laidlaw

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Thanks guys. I've looked using the Icarsoft and it doesnt show the selector moving ar all I to a manual gear. ie. When I start it it shows P in the icarsoft and R if I select reverse, N if I select Neutral and D if I select drive however when in drive and I nudge it it doesnt show fear 1 or 2 it remains showing D for drive.
I'm based near Aberdeen and not aware if any Mercedes specialist apart from the main dealer. I dont know how to dismantle the centre console to get ti the selector either and cant find a youtube clip.
Diack in Inverurie Andy, not aware of any closer or around Aberdeen itself
 
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AndyTee

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I think there should be a seperate actual value for Tip + and Tip - rather than the selected gear changing, but I could be wrong.
The Owners manual does say that the D indicated on the instrument cluster should change to which gear you have selected manually. This is the same for all gearboxes I have used with tiptronic irrelivant of manufacturer. The only time I would generally use it is going down a long hill or coasting up to a junction but it would be good to have it working.

Andy
 
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AndyTee

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Diack in Inverurie Andy, not aware of any closer or around Aberdeen itself
I will look into these guys as not to far away. Many thanks for the tip.
 

alexanderfoti

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The Owners manual does say that the D indicated on the instrument cluster should change to which gear you have selected manually. This is the same for all gearboxes I have used with tiptronic irrelivant of manufacturer. The only time I would generally use it is going down a long hill or coasting up to a junction but it would be good to have it working.

Andy

Sorry, I was referring to the diagnostic information shown on the icarsoft
 
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AndyTee

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Sorry, I was referring to the diagnostic information shown on the icarsoft
I did a double check as still getting used to the ICarSoft and in one of the submenus for Electronic Selector Module it did show that the switch had been operated when I nudged the gear selector to the right (plus). It never showed it being operated when i nudged the selector to the left (minus) but that may be beause I was already in teh lowest gear as on the driveway. Im guessing that this confirms that the selector mechanism is okay nd it mut be a software issue. All speed sensors and everything else in the gearbox seems okay and there are no fault codes up either.

Looks like I really need to get someone with the correct equipment to checl the software and possibly update it.

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LostKiwi

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Sounds to me like the (-) switch isn't working.
You can test the (+) while driving by pushing it right whilst accelerating in low gears. It should change up almost immediately.
 

alexanderfoti

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That's the one I was thinking. I agree with the above. Without the negative switch you won't get any action out of the display.
 
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AndyTee

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Sounds to me like the (-) switch isn't working.
You can test the (+) while driving by pushing it right whilst accelerating in low gears. It should change up almost immediately.
Well the (+) must be working as I can see it changing state on the Icarsoft tool when I nudge the selector to the right but the gearbox doesnt change up when driving. The (-) switch may be defective as I dont see it change state on the Icarsoft but I havnt checked it whilst driving as alone at the moment and would need a passenger to assist whilst driving. Again the gearbox doesnt shift down.
I do on reflection agree that the (-) switch isn't working but surely it would still change up id the software was working as the (+) switch is working and I can see it change state!!
 

alexanderfoti

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Keep in mind.

The up and down selections on the lever are range selectors, not a manual mode.

Eg with "3" selected, the car will only use 1st 2nd and 3rd. It will not exclusively use 3rd.

Additionally, you can force an upshift, if all parameters meet (like road speed/engine rpm etc) by holding it on D+ for 2/3 seconds

The reason you see no change, is going up from D does nothing, as you are already in range "5"
 

John Laidlaw

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Yeah as you say you need someone driving whilst you check it , bearing in mind what Alex has said.
You should have gotten the link for software updates from icarsoft surely ?
 
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AndyTee

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Apologies for the very delayed response but Ive been out of the country and completely forgotten about this fault.

Anyway I took the car to Westhill Garage just outside of Aberdeen as their technician is ex-Mercedes and he was very knowledgeable. The problem was a switch internal to the gearbox that needed replacing but as it would cost approx 800ukp I just left it as the gearbox works great even without the tiptronic. He looked at a fault on the suspension which occured due to a leaking right outer airbag and set up everything so its like new again. I also got him to put in a new condenser for the aircon and new park sensors so I have a virtually perfect CLS500 again now. I had forgotten just how good these cars are but sad at how little value they have.

Thanks everyone for all you pointers and advice.
 

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