Auto dif lock and other q's

[Duncan Farrow]

I went for my first test drive in a CLK200 (old one) first time driving a MB Auto as my C class is manual - I noticed a few things..

An older T reg CLK - the 200 engine seemed to roar a bit more than my C180?!?!?!? I had expected it to be smoother

and I had been expecting a dif lock above 60 mph...

I queried with the dealer about the s/w switch - summer winter??? I preferred the smoother changes in W - I even thought it was a bit jerky in S -

He said it was ok to leave it in either setting....

any comments ?? (sorry if the q's are a bit basic)

otherwise lovely motor Im saving up

 

[kid-jensen]

Duncan,

If you're not familiar with an auto you may take a while to get used to the extra revs they use on acceleration........

That being said, if you were concerned about refinement, the "Roar" could be a viscous fan siezed (assuming it has one) or it could be that the 2-litre engine has slightly more vibration than the 1.8 due to larger reciprocating masses. One of these issues you will have to live with :wink:

I don't know enough about the model to say, but I would have expected a torque converter lockup too. Are you sure it's not locking? They are generally very uobtrusive and the only way you can normally tell is by watching the rev counter.

 

[piestore]

clk

Why were you expecting a diff lock over 60 mph ???

this vehicle would have ESP,

 

[Duncan Farrow]

Sorry to sound like an obsessive compulsive but I asked about diff lock as my only experience of driving and auto is a V8 rangerover which has 4 speed and diff lock over 56mph - I assumed that the CLK200 would lock too but even at about 75 on the M6, it hadnt locked - by checking the rev counter - sorry I dont know what ESP is ?!?!?!

 

[kid-jensen]

Ducan,

do you rewally mean Diff lock?

I assumed you meant torque converter lock.

 

[Duncan Farrow]

ummm yes just testing of course I mean torque converter lock... this must be why every one looks at me in a funny way....

yes torque lock thats what Im on about -

Had some fun and games today with the C180 - the imobiliser wouldnt switch off - bit of useful info thanks to the stars at Drayton MB of Stoke-on-Trent

After changing the batts in the remote
and doing the emergency access code (two presses of the remote and turn on the ignition) they suggested that the next step would be to momentarily disconnect the battery as sometimes the infra red ECU can lock out - it worked a treat (all over the phone in Wilkinsons carpark) it reminded me of the film where the air hostess had to fly the plane...

I digress....

 

[dieselman]

The auto is noisier than the manual in all cases due to the exra load placed on the engine due to auto box inneficiency.

It is Ok to drive in either S or W but in W first gear is only used on kickdown and changes take place lower in the rev range. This is to reduce wheelspin in snow.

The autos on petrol cars can feel a bit jerky due to low gearing and the box hunting up and down the gears due to the lack of torque. Having said that a 5 speed MB auto shouldnt feel jerky as such.

You can't feel the torque converter clutch because it is hydraulically operated and is proportional to vehicle speed and lack of engine load. i.e. the faster you go and the lighter the throttle then the more the clutch locks up.
ZF boxes fitted to Range Rover,BMW, Citroen and others use an electrical lock up clutch that you can feel engage as it's either off or on.

Try going 130mph, I bet its locked up then! :

 

[Duncan Farrow]

Thanks Diesel - Im keen as mustard to get my hands on a tiptronic auto now

yes that torque lock on the Range Rover gives you whip lash at 56KM :lol: