5 speed Auto in top gear at 40mph

[jprwno15]

My W220 s Class seems to be in too high a gear at low speeds. If you try and accelerate gradually the car shudders as it struggles to pull away. if you accelerate more quickly its fine it changes down as it should.

I've tried to reset in the usual way but no diffeence.

If anyone can help it I would be very grateful.

 

[Naraic]

Mine would be in top at 40 too...no problems though.

 

[Fleetwood]

Have you had the fluid and filter changed ?

That would be my first port of call

 

[Vamps]

Surly you would want to be in top gear at 40mph, if driving in urban areas for example, quick acceleration would need 'kick down' so you would have to floor it....

 

[albertg]

shuddering at 40 mph

Hi, new kid on the block here. The type of shudder will assist in diagnosing.
Is the shudder sharp and well defined? If so the fault is likely to be ignition related. The spark plug cables may be shorting to earth due to high resistance.
Is the shudder softer, slurring? That may be transmission or fuel related.. It's more likely to be the former.

 

[Ricardo_e220]

Hi, new kid on the block here. The type of shudder will assist in diagnosing.
Is the shudder sharp and well defined? If so the fault is likely to be ignition related. The spark plug cables may be shorting to earth due to high resistance.
Is the shudder softer, slurring? That may be transmission or fuel related.. It's more likely to be the former.

It's a diesel so no spark, my 220cdi, is normally in top at 40mph. It shouldn't struggle though, if I have a hill or any change it just drops down. Does yours change up and down ok in normal conditions ( changes in mine are a little sluggish feeling in the real cold until its gone a couple of miles and the oil has warmed a little ( mine was changed 30k miles and a year ago)

 

[television]

I would think that the first port of call will be a fluid change, its possible that it has never been done

 

[mxs]

Fluid and filter change IMHO

 

[jprwno15]

Thanks for your comments. I will get the fluid and filter changed in January. The shuddering is only slight and as you accelerate or if you get an incline it then changes down and is fine.

 

[st4]

Shuddering incicates the valeo fault but this didn't affect W220's?

Get the fluid changed in case there is coolant in there, although, its unlikely have a pokey around the radiator

 

[television]

Shuddering incicates the valeo fault but this didn't affect W220's?

Get the fluid changed in case there is coolant in there, although, its unlikely have a pokey around the radiator

That had crossed my mind Steve, although not on the list they can still leak, any car can where the rad has the box cooling inbuilt.

As the op will be spending something like £170 for the fluid and filter change, spending the £70 with MB for a glycol test could stop money being wasted

 

[st4]

Glad we are on the same page here.

I've driven many 5g cars and they don't judder unless its that valeo fault or the TC is on the way out. My old E220cdi sometimes did this and it was the TC had seen better days, had plenty of life left but had seen better days if that makes sense.

Could be either but they don't judder.

 

[television]

Glad we are on the same page here.

I've driven many 5g cars and they don't judder unless its that valeo fault or the TC is on the way out. My old E220cdi sometimes did this and it was the TC had seen better days, had plenty of life left but had seen better days if that makes sense.

Could be either but they don't judder.

True,,, the Valeo symptoms are a humming or droning when pulling lightly at engine RPM of between 1400 and 2500

 

[alexanderfoti]

I belive that that the w220's are a little harder on TC's than most. I have seen many occurrences of 220's with replacement tc's or a shuddering sensation.

 

[jprwno15]

I have had the fluid and MAF replaced and its running just as it should.