2010 CLC 220 CDI sport auto - Intermittent refusal to change above 3rd gear.

[Paulpaw]

Hi,

Would appreciate advice on the following auto gearbox behaviour.

I recently obtained a CLC 220 CDI sport auto. 201O model, 92k and 5 speed.

When starting a journey the auto gearbox works absolutely fine. Nice smooth shifts. After a long journey, one hour plus, the car can refuse to shift above 3rd gear. If you stop and turn the ignition off, the problem is resolved for a while.

Got a gearbox service carried out (BS3 Mercedes specialist in Bristol). They advised no fault codes were present. Thought this has solved the problem but recurred again today.

Would appreciate guidance on best next move?

Thanks in advance,

Paul

 

[onefortheroad]

Have a full scan on the engine .

 

[Paulpaw]

Have a full scan on the engine .

Thanks.

I will ask if a full scan was carried out.

Researching, the gearbox and conductor plate seems to be mentioned a fair amount. When warm, is this resulting in a failure to activate the solenoid responsible for engaging 4th gear?

Regards

 

[Paulpaw]

Thanks.

I will ask if a full scan was carried out.

Researching, the gearbox and conductor plate seems to be mentioned a fair amount. When warm, is this resulting in a failure to activate the solenoid responsible for engaging 4th gear?

Regards

Or could it be the solenoid itself?

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

I'd say there is a fault with the speed sensor on the electro plate. I'm not sure if BS3 have Xentry, but if they havent then it might be worth speaking to a specialist who does...(cough, cough)...

 

[Paulpaw]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the reply. I have since got the car booked in to a gearbox specialist in Swansea (local) for a new electro plate. They suggested the same as you. They also have MB diagnostic facilities.

I will want to get some more service work in the near future. Are you based in Bristol? I often work in the area.

Regards

 

[rifiki]

Some 7 speed boxes do have problems with electro/conductor plate. 5 speed?
Indie with MB STAR diagnostic before you start throwing money at it

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the reply. I have since got the car booked in to a gearbox specialist in Swansea (local) for a new electro plate. They suggested the same as you. They also have MB diagnostic facilities.

I will want to get some more service work in the near future. Are you based in Bristol? I often work in the area.

Regards

J20 of the M5, a short squirt off the M49 for you if you are coming from the principality!

 

[Paulpaw]

Ok, thanks for the replys. All quite correct about a proper diagnostic before proceeding. Car went to auto gearbox specialist today, potentially for replacement conductor plate.

A scan was carried out giving:

1.0734 The Gear is implausible or the transmission is slipping.

2.0730 The transmission has an impermissible transmission ratio

Advised therefore that recondition needed at cost of £1800 Inc vat.

Now to see what an RAC Gold Any Maintenance & Repair is worth in the real world!

 

[Paulpaw]

Shame BS3 in Bristol did not pick this up.

 

[Blobcat]

Ok, thanks for the replys. All quite correct about a proper diagnostic before proceeding. Car went to auto gearbox specialist today, potentially for replacement conductor plate.

A scan was carried out giving:

1.0734 The Gear is implausible or the transmission is slipping.

2.0730 The transmission has an impermissible transmission ratio

Advised therefore that recondition needed at cost of £1800 Inc vat.

Now to see what an RAC Gold Any Maintenance & Repair is worth in the real world!

Good luck and please report back

 

[Paulpaw]

Good luck and please report back

Will do.

 

[Paulpaw]

Ok, the results are finally in.

On inspection all the plates within the gearbox were slipping. The transmission fluid was checked and found to contain coolant. Fluid was leaking in from the gearbox cooling circuit.

New radiator, gearbox rebuild and new torque converter. (£2000).

The general scepticism of used car warranties remains intact. RAC Gold warranty did not cover the repair as the fault was caused by the gearbox coolant circuit. One would have thought this is integral to the gearbox. RAC Gold sounds very grand and trustworthy but ultimately their main aim seems to be to wriggle out of any claim just like all the other less renowned guys out there. Very disappointing.

 

[alexanderfoti]

I know this is not any help, but the ONLY used car warrant provider I have had a good experience with, is the AA.

They once paid for a head gasket, valves and a chain set, on a 125k mile M271 that had burned a hole in the exhaust valve due to being run on LPG.

Every other one just wastes our time (money) and causes the customer to have a poor experience.

We no longer do warranty work as a result of our experience.

 

[Paulpaw]

Thanks for the advice. Hope the car doesn't breakdown as breakdown cover is also with the RAC. Could be a long walk home.

 

[sonic]

That was an issue on CLK's & E Class cars around 2003-2007, the cause was the French Velo radiators failing.
The other fitment was the German Behr radiator which was unaffected.
Looks like they were still using the Velo in the CLC in 2010.

 

[Paulpaw]

I can understand garages being reluctant to take on this sort of work. You can potentially have a gearbox stripped in your workshop and then you have a warranty company quibbling about cover. Personally I let the workshop know that I would cover the cost if this occured. Sure enough...........