A few C240 questions...

[veedweeb]

Hi,

I've got a '98 C240 and I have a couple of questions:

1. When it's cold, it's very reluctant to change gear (5spd auto) - is that normal?

2. When the engine's warm, it won't start first time. I mean I turn the key, and the starter turns for a split second, but the engine doesn't start. It normally starts second or third attempt. I read on here that it could be the flywheel needs greasing. Would that be right?

3. What are the symptoms of a dying MAF sensor? I know from my experience with VW that the Bosch MAFs are sensitive little souls and will stop working on a whim, so what are the tell tale signs? I ask this because....

4. The gearbox doesn't change very smoothly sometimes. If I'm accelerating hard from standstill, it'll stay in first right up until the redline and then not change into second. Sometimes it seems reluctant to kickdown, and other times, it changes very slowly (as if it goes into neutral - the engine revs in between changes). 95% of the time, it's great, and really smooth

Any light you can shed on these would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Welcome to the forum.

You don't mention what mileage the car has done but as its a 98 reg I should imagine the auto box is now overdue a fluid and filter change. The niggles you mention are a characteristic of old trans fluid. I think the newer 5 speed boxes also have a tendency to hold onto the lower gears when cold to speed up the warm up process.

I don't have experience of a MAF failure but from what I've read there is no warning and the first hint of a problem is the engine switching to 'limp mode'.

Don't know about the poor starting but the usual checks should be made, plugs, leads etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[Blobcat]

Agree with Malcolm210 re changing the ATF.

MAF fails with no error codes, symptoms are unwilllingness to rev beyond 3,000 revs and no kickdown.

 

[television]

As Malcolm 210 says the gearbox holds the two lower gears to warm up the CAT as quicklt as possible. this is a built in feature. If the car drives ok when warm, I would not bother changing the oil. the cranshaft possition sensor is on the flywheel, this does not need greasing.

Malcolm

 

[veedweeb]

Thanks for the replies....

I should have mentioned - it's done 59,000 miles.

Is changing the ATF a specialist only task, or can a (reasonably) competent home mechanic do it?

As fot if holding the lower gears, it only seems to do this when the weather is really cold, so it looks like it is trying to warm itself up quicker. I'll cross that off my "list of things to worry about"

 

[Blobcat]

Parrot of Doom has posted a very comprehensive step by step guide to ATF replacement on the forum. Looking at your VW I guess you would be up to it.
I have also noted mine holds onto gears when cold, can't say as I'd noticed before but since I was looking out for it I noticed it.

 

[Uncle Benz]

Going back to your starting issue...
Are you saying that the 'auto start' fails to run the starter long enough to fire the engine? I have had this problem before on w208 clk320. It seems to me that as the car does not have a 'check engine' lamp, it tries to tell you of a problem by messing about with the starting proceedure. My clk had a failed lambda sensor, and after replacing it the auto start function was also fixed, and never did it again. Perhaps you need a diagnostic session.

 

[Paul Wong]

I have a 98' C240 with a 27k mileage. The problem of reluctance to shift from 1st to 2nd began when my car was still brand new. I sent it to the MB dealer a few times and they finally had a complete gearbox overhaul. The problem seemed to be solved but it does happen once a while up to now. The same problem occurs when going uphill, even when the rev is over 3,000. Many said that it's a software design bug.

 

[mioba]

I have a 98' C240 with a 27k mileage. The problem of reluctance to shift from 1st to 2nd began when my car was still brand new. I sent it to the MB dealer a few times and they finally had a complete gearbox overhaul. The problem seemed to be solved but it does happen once a while up to now. The same problem occurs when going uphill, even when the rev is over 3,000. Many said that it's a software design bug.

a gearbox overhaul, i am sure the dealers were rubbing there hands.

 

[veedweeb]

Just to update...

The MAF has been changed and that completely cured the gear change issues.

But now it needs 2 new lambda sensors

Gearbox overhaul at a main dealer? What did that cost?