5 speed auto box

[Peter 300TE]

I have just noticed that my box is not engaging 5th gear. As most of my miles are about town it has not been apparent before.

It changes ok for the other gears with no problem/lag/over reving just wont change to 5th gear. I have tried it in both S and E with no luck.

Any suggestions with regards to sensors/switched etc.

Thanks

 

[St Andy]

Edited

insert helpful comment here

Roger

 

[Peter 300TE]

Well thanks for that, anyone with anything slightly more useful?

 

[Spike]

Just ignore St Andy, he seems to have volunteered to be our new resident spotty 17 year old Troll.

Early W124's only had 4 speed gearboxes and yes they do seem a little low geared on the motorway. ....are you sure yours should have a five speed?

 

[Peter 300TE]

it certainly did the day before! :?:

It has D,4,3,2 . D and 4 are switchable by pushing the gear stick across sideways. As it moves across from D to 4 there used to a rise in revs. There is no longer. 70mph is now running at aprox 4,000rpm. Before it was about 3,500rpm.

I have checked the fluid level its OK. Is the change between 5 and 4 mechanical or is it a switch like between S and E?

Anyone know :?:

 

[dieselman]

The gear selector is mechanical for P,R,N,D, and then the rest are electrical.
I suspect your gear selector switch is stuck in the right hand side if the gate when the actual selector is moved over to the left (D) position.

Failing this you need the codes to be read and the gearbox to be selected with the Star Diagnostics machine.

Although not common the mechanical components for the gear selector switches can break causing anomolies like stuck in W or S or indeed set gears.
If the gearbox / ECU were faulty then limp home should have been selected resulting in either holding the last gear selected or engaging second gear only.

The only bit that confuses this is that your title is 300TE. These didn't have 5 speed electronic boxes, unless you know better.

 

[Peter 300TE]

Thanks Dieselman, a bit more helpful than St Andy. The car was fitted with the 5 speed auto as an option when ordered along with the sportsline suspension and interior as factory fitted options. Took the total cost price to £43K, just who spends this money?

Am I right in assuming that I can remove this switch by removing the centre console?

Anyone know the answer to this?

 

[Andy]

Hi all,

Dieselman is right. You will need to have the fault codes read. It could be the switch & I think you can gain acess to it via the centre console. You don't mention how many miles the vehicle has travelled. The last two we did the clutch pack had discintergrated & that what had caused lack of drive let alone 5th speed. But there is fault diagnosis on this system.


I would get it fault code read then take it from there.


Hope its something simple.

Regards

Andy@ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Peter 300TE]

Thanks Andy, I'll have to take it in then for this. Just as a matter of interest anyone have a ball park figure for the rebuild of the box. The vehicle has covered aprox 168k mostly motorway.

But hey, the Volvo I sold to buy this had covered over 250k on the same auto box with no problems! My wife loved that Volvo you know.

 

[Spike]

Peter, seeing as you are based in oxford, May I recommend that you head down the M40 to George Frasers. He is an independant MB service agent, based near Hanger Lane, specialises in auto boxes and like Andy, comes highly recommended.

Give him a call in any event, he is happy to offer advice on the phone and he is open Saturdays.

http://www.georgefrasergarage.co.uk/

 

[dieselman]

The switch pack is built into the centre console unit. It is not attached to the gearbox in any way, other than the remote linkage for P,R,N,D.
The said linkage dislocates when you move the stick to the right (4,3,2,1).
It sounds like the box is good, just the switch is stuck in the 4,3,2,1 side of the gate.

 

[Peter 300TE]

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[p902]

Further question...

This must sound v. silly after all the technical info that has passed down this thread. My question is HOW do I tell if I have a 4speed or 5speed auto box?
I have a 2000 W202 (C Class).

Thanks.

 

[grayb]

If its a 2000 model it'll have the Tiptronic box - where you can move the lever from left to right to change up or down - which are all 5 speeds as far as I know...

 

[Andy]

Hi Peter

Depending on what needed in the box worse case scenario you are looking at £600 plus vat for a 5sp rebuild. Get it checked out first.


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Peter 300TE]

Thanks Andy, not as bad as I at first thought. I will run and get the error code checked as you suggest first and fingers crossed.

Peter

 

[Peter 300TE]

nightmare

Just to update for those who are interested. Its now two weeks since George Frasier has had the car (sorry Andy, it was just so much closer) and one problem follows another. I have a rebuilt box and am now awaiting a (HRJ?) electrical control unit on back order from Germany (ten days or so) to finish the job. G*d knows how much this is all going to cost.

If anything I fel a bit guilty as I have had a spare car from them all this time and thay have been very understanding.

Oh and the wife has now taken to visiting Volvo garages and saying how good they all look.

Bit of a moan I know but can someone assure me that MB's do go forever?

 

[Peter 300TE]

hooooray its back

The box is very smooth even my good wife is impressed as she cannot tell when the gears are changing.

Never mind all is forgiven....the French Alps here we come

 

[Spike]

Great to hear your good news Peter.

How long did it tale to sort out in the end and how much did it total up to?

 

[Peter 300TE]

two weeks, one electric aerial and just under £1000 - in the end, boy oh boy yhe joys of MB ownership!