1998 c200(202) gearbox issues

[andy66]

hello guys,i have a 1997 c200 with a 5 speed auto box,when the engine is cold the gearbox will not change between 1st,2nd and third until the engine speed reaches about 2800rpm which makes the car a very harsh drive until it is warm,when it is warm the box changes very smoothly(at about 1200rpm),is this normal or can the box be adjusted to run better from cold?.also recently the box has started changing very harshly from 3rd to 2nd when slowing down to a stop..this only seems to do this when the car is fully warmed up....ANY IDEARS PLEASE!!!

 

[eric242340]

hello guys,i have a 1997 c200 with a 5 speed auto box,when the engine is cold the gearbox will not change between 1st,2nd and third until the engine speed reaches about 2800rpm which makes the car a very harsh drive until it is warm,when it is warm the box changes very smoothly(at about 1200rpm),is this normal or can the box be adjusted to run better from cold?.also recently the box has started changing very harshly from 3rd to 2nd when slowing down to a stop..this only seems to do this when the car is fully warmed up....ANY IDEARS PLEASE!!!

Well lets start at this, 2800 rpm is ok and perfectly normal. 2500 is the perfect change point.Exactly how bad is the 3 to 2 shift?

 

[andy66]

hello eric, the 3 to 2 shift is more of a clunk feeling as the car slows right down,its like it is sticking in 3rd until it has no choice but to change down to 2ndd(it used to be a seamless change that you hardly felt),by the way thanks for advice on other issue

 

[eric242340]

hello eric, the 3 to 2 shift is more of a clunk feeling as the car slows right down,its like it is sticking in 3rd until it has no choice but to change down to 2ndd(it used to be a seamless change that you hardly felt),by the way thanks for advice on other issue

Hi andy and from what your saying it sounds like a brake band problem in the transmission. Strange though, as upshift is normal. Just thinking about this, how old is the car? and how much mileage? And have you experienced transmission problems before?

 

[andy66]

car is a1997(upgrade model) with 89000 miles and service history...never realy had any probs with the box exept cold start issue as discussed before,is it worth getting the fluid level checked as ican not do it myself as their is no dipstick on this model!!

 

[Ultymate]

Andy, not sure whether you realise but the 5 speed box on the 202 does hold onto the gears longer when cold this is to warm up the catalytic converter more quickly, this is quite normal for the model but can be disconcerting if you're not used to it.

 

[eric242340]

car is a1997(upgrade model) with 89000 miles and service history...never realy had any probs with the box exept cold start issue as discussed before,is it worth getting the fluid level checked as ican not do it myself as their is no dipstick on this model!!

89ooo and no oil or filter change? If so, I would do an oil and filter change first. But sorry to say if this does not solve the problem then there is a problem with a brake band. Let me know if the oil change does any good, and what the condition of the old oil is.

 

[television]

Hi andy, you do not have a problem with your gearbox and eric should know better than to be talking about brake bands. It is wrong information again.

MB gearboxes from 1997 are designed to hold onto 2-3 long enough for the CAT to warm up. you will find this info in your hand book. when coasting downhill the lock up feels worse than normal driving.

The sealed for life program went out of the window and the fluid and filter should be changed at 40k miles. This does smooth the changes.

This issue has been on the forum at least 20 times and you do not have a fault.

Malcolm

 

[andy66]

thanks for all the advice chaps, ,ime glad the cold start issue is no real problem and i will change the gearbox oil and filter as i dont think its ever been done as i was told that they were "sealed for life" boxes in this model...thanks again

 

[eric242340]

thanks for all the advice chaps, ,ime glad the cold start issue is no real problem and i will change the gearbox oil and filter as i dont think its ever been done as i was told that they were "sealed for life" boxes in this model...thanks again

Sealed for life? this is still a question. What is the life of a transmission. Maybe this means that when the warrenty ends the transmission life ends? I dont think you have a major problem but change the oil and filter and then we will see.

 

[television]

Sealed for life? this is still a question. What is the life of a transmission. Maybe this means that when the warrenty ends the transmission life ends? I dont think you have a major problem but change the oil and filter and then we will see.

You should have known better eric than to post what you did and you are supposed to know luckily for me this time other people understand and know this problem, and they all posted at the same time as me with the correct simple answer.

malcolm