Auto Box Problem

[alangypsy]

Hello the forum, 1998 c class 250td. automatic gearbox has suddenly stopped changing up seems to be stuck in first gear even when trying to move through gears manually, have checked auto fluid seems to be okay can any-one tell me if there is anything else i can check. THANKS IN ADVANCE

 

[Guy Greenwell]

Automatic Gear Change

Hi,
C250 Turbodiesel
I too have had problems with my gearbox not wanting to change up, it does not want to change when cold from 1st. if S is selected or 2nd. if W is selected on the winter /summer switch.
I changed the gearbox oil and filter and the change quality has improved but is still delayed when the gearbox is cold, it being really bad when the weather is about freezing or below.
One thing I have noticed is that the change seems to be related to the gear selector indicator light in that when I select D, if it is really cold the "D" does not illuminate and the gearbox does not want to change up.
If I select D4 this position lights up and the box changes gear ok, moving the lever to the left then allows the box to change into 5th.
when the car is thoroughly hot the gear selector illuminates in all positions and all gear changes are satisfactory.
Is this coincidence or is the gear selection signalled electrically?
If so does anyone know how to adjust the selector lever?
Regards Guy

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

Is this just from a cold start for a short period or lasts a long while?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I have a similar problem on mine, only when cold though. It sometimes doesn't like changing from 3rd to 4th, at about 35mph. Its strange because it will do the change, and the revs drop slightly, and then it changes back - you get this yo-yo effect until you force the issue by giving it more gas and then backing off.

Never an issue when the car is warm though.

 

[television]

Hi,
C250 Turbodiesel
I too have had problems with my gearbox not wanting to change up, it does not want to change when cold from 1st. if S is selected or 2nd. if W is selected on the winter /summer switch.
I changed the gearbox oil and filter and the change quality has improved but is still delayed when the gearbox is cold, it being really bad when the weather is about freezing or below.
One thing I have noticed is that the change seems to be related to the gear selector indicator light in that when I select D, if it is really cold the "D" does not illuminate and the gearbox does not want to change up.
If I select D4 this position lights up and the box changes gear ok, moving the lever to the left then allows the box to change into 5th.
when the car is thoroughly hot the gear selector illuminates in all positions and all gear changes are satisfactory.
Is this coincidence or is the gear selection signalled electrically?
If so does anyone know how to adjust the selector lever?
Regards Guy

All MB's lock the gearbox into the lower gears so that the cat will warm up quickly.when hot the car drives as normal

Malcolm

 

[television]

Hello the forum, 1998 c class 250td. automatic gearbox has suddenly stopped changing up seems to be stuck in first gear even when trying to move through gears manually, have checked auto fluid seems to be okay can any-one tell me if there is anything else i can check. THANKS IN ADVANCE

Does it do it when engine hot

Malcolm

 

[television]

I have a similar problem on mine, only when cold though. It sometimes doesn't like changing from 3rd to 4th, at about 35mph. Its strange because it will do the change, and the revs drop slightly, and then it changes back - you get this yo-yo effect until you force the issue by giving it more gas and then backing off.

Never an issue when the car is warm though.

its MB's way to warm the cat rapidly,no fault

Malcolm

 

[television]

A interesting point arrises here, there are quite a lot of cars where people cant get the car warm enough, this must have an effect on how long the gearbox stays locked up. This only happens on cars 95> with electric gearboxes, any other views on this.

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

its MB's way to warm the cat rapidly,no fault

Malcolm

Is that true? Its a diesel mine - didn't know all diesels even had a cat!

So it could possibly be related to my glow plug problem, as when the engine is stone cold not all the cylinders are firing properly. I'll see how it goes as I expect to have it sorted early next week.

 

[Bumper]

Is that true? Its a diesel mine - didn't know all diesels even had a cat!

So it could possibly be related to my glow plug problem, as when the engine is stone cold not all the cylinders are firing properly. I'll see how it goes as I expect to have it sorted early next week.

The heater plugs are only used to start the engine when cold the minute you turn the key to the No 3 position it cuts the power to the heater plugs, the relay for the heater plugs also has a timer to turn of power to the heater plugs. If your car is a CDI you don’t even need the heater plugs to start it, so I don’t think your problem relates to the heater plugs.

 

[television]

Is that true? Its a diesel mine - didn't know all diesels even had a cat!

QUOTE]
I am afraid they do, quite a lot to it.

Malcolm

 

[Pzd]

Hi,
C250 Turbodiesel
I too have had problems with my gearbox not wanting to change up, it does not want to change when cold from 1st. if S is selected or 2nd. if W is selected on the winter /summer switch.
I changed the gearbox oil and filter and the change quality has improved but is still delayed when the gearbox is cold, it being really bad when the weather is about freezing or below.
One thing I have noticed is that the change seems to be related to the gear selector indicator light in that when I select D, if it is really cold the "D" does not illuminate and the gearbox does not want to change up.
If I select D4 this position lights up and the box changes gear ok, moving the lever to the left then allows the box to change into 5th.
when the car is thoroughly hot the gear selector illuminates in all positions and all gear changes are satisfactory.
Is this coincidence or is the gear selection signalled electrically?
If so does anyone know how to adjust the selector lever?
Regards Guy

Hello.

As I said in a early post, I have the same problem in my '99 W202 220 cdi. At temp below 10ºC the gears wont shift, and sometimes even when the car temp is ok (around 75ºC) the gearbox don't work normally, sometimes forgets to shift. About the "D" light, one thing that I have noticed is that the light sometimes blinks irregulary, and when I move the lever to do left the "4" light becames on but the gears wont shift.

Today with a good amb temp there were no problems shifting.

Any guess?

PZD

 

[television]

I will look it up in the morning and see if there is any info.

Malcolm

 

[television]

Looking around the world this is the biggest complaint, yet the only info from MB is to adjust the selector rod. In the USA, they all say that the oil and filter should be changed at 50k and clean the kick down switch.
My own car a 99 is almost the reverse, when hot it can stay in the lower gears,by moving the shift from drive to N and back clears the problem. so maybe it is a matter of adjusting the selector rod.

Malcolm

I have just remembered that when mine sticks it is in the lock up mode(engine braking)and should not be the case when hot, is it the same on yours

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Sorry to threadjack again.

Later this week we're going to attempt to change the gearbox fluid.

Anyone done this? The car is a W210 E300 DT. I'm thinking it will be a case of dropping the pan, draining the existing fluid, replacing any filters/gaskets, and then filling it back up, matching the amount of fluid that goes in to the amount that came out?

 

[tamrsoft]

I have the E220 with the 722.6 tranny, changing the oil is an easy procedure if done with care (I have a document with pics on my job). On your car, you probably have a plug on the torque convertor so you should be able to do a complete change (later models did not have the plug). What ever procedure you choose, only use genuine MB ATF and filter.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The ATF - is it the same stuff as what goes in the power steering? I have about 2 litres of the MB stuff.

 

[Pzd]

Hi!

Problem solved!

The gears won't shift with cold because of a bad electrical contact in the electronic device that detects the position of the lever.

So, when it was in D the light blinked and the gearbox didn't know in which position the lever was.

So I dismounted it piece by piece and bended a bit the small contacts that meet the 8 small squares.

I hope you understand my bad english.

Greetings

PZD