Automatic Gears Won't Engage First Thing in the Morning.

[Jule of the North]

Hi There.

I bought a 2007 e-class 280cdi Avantgarde(Diesel) last year from Mitchells Classic Cars in Slaggford, Cumbria. (will not be going there again). I had problems with the car with glow plugs. They replaces the glow plugs twice, a they burned out, a new module and other bits and pieces. Over the last couple of weeks, the car doesn't like to start first thing in the morning, it takes a few clicks of glow plug lights several times before she fires up. Smoke comes out of both exhausts When this happens the gears won't engage at all, I can move the gear leaver but nothing happens. I have to switch the engine off and on several times before she engages, once she has engaged, she is ok for the rest of the day, stopping and starting journeys. My foot is on the brake pedal whilst trying to engage gears. Any one have any ideas on how to proceed, would be very much appreciated. Many thanks Jules x

 

[onefortheroad]

Known issues are fuel leaking back overnight, hence 2 or 3 tries , this builds up fuel pressure. Possibly it's the key itself for the gears not engaging . There's an immobilizer built into there somewhere that allows the gearbox and engine to communicate.

 

[Jule of the North]

HI One for the Road,

What parts would I need to get for a fuel leak. I think maybe I need to find a place to get two new keys coded for it. I don't know where though.

Thanks Jules

 

[onefortheroad]

HI One for the Road,

What parts would I need to get for a fuel leak. I think maybe I need to find a place to get two new keys coded for it. I don't know where though.

Thanks Jules

It's not that kind of leak .

Fuel leaks back to the fuel tank via ,the fuel pumps and injectors .

Plenty of mobile locksmiths do Merc keys if you Google.

 

[Jule of the North]

Many thanks. Jules x

 

[Wighty]

Hi There.

I bought a 2007 e-class 280cdi Avantgarde(Diesel) last year from Mitchells Classic Cars in Slaggford, Cumbria. (will not be going there again). I had problems with the car with glow plugs. They replaces the glow plugs twice, a they burned out, a new module and other bits and pieces. Over the last couple of weeks, the car doesn't like to start first thing in the morning, it takes a few clicks of glow plug lights several times before she fires up. Smoke comes out of both exhausts When this happens the gears won't engage at all, I can move the gear leaver but nothing happens. I have to switch the engine off and on several times before she engages, once she has engaged, she is ok for the rest of the day, stopping and starting journeys. My foot is on the brake pedal whilst trying to engage gears. Any one have any ideas on how to proceed, would be very much appreciated. Many thanks Jules x

You really need an MB specialist , where do you live ?

 

[Jule of the North]

You really need an MB specialist , where do you live ?

Hi, I live just outside Hexham, Northumberland

 

[Wighty]

I’m sure a member will be able to recommend someone for you shortly .
Good luck with it all .

 

[Doug1234]

Sounds to me like the main battery has had it , glow plugs and starter are robbing all the power so things like gearbox ecu get robbed of power. Once engines ran for a while and restarted it works ok for rest of day as mentioned and gears engage and change properly. Usually accompanied by many flashing warning lights

 

[Jule of the North]

HI Doug1234,

I don't get any warning light on dashboard, the original replacement module was fried within a day and it had to have 2 sets of glow plugs. I was wondering if I need the transmission fluid checked. Thanks Jules

 

[Doug1234]

Have the main battery checked first.
If the fluid was low it would not get better and drive happily all day

 

[Jule of the North]

Many thanks for your help. Keep Safe x

 

[Jule of the North]

Have the main battery checked first.
If the fluid was low it would not get better and drive happily all day

Hi There, the battery has been checked and it is functioning properly. I cannot find the dipstick location to see if transmission fluid is low. I have looked at the back of the engine and there is nothing there, its a 2007 model. Jules

 

[M80]

I wouldn't expect the fuel to leak back to tank as suggested.
That was a common 'o' ring issue on earlier cars.

There is a way of checking battery voltage via the on screen display, sorry I couldn't tell you how as I would just get my meter out.
But that might give a clue, or not, to the battery being past it's best.

Tbh I would get the auto transmission fluid level checked, if only to eliminate that from the diagnostics. Level is important.
But how many miles on the car, and do you know if the fluid has ever been replaced?
Some garages will say the fluid is in there for life, ignore them that was sales bs.

It sounds like the selling garage isn't aware that glow plugs and controller need to be matched. There are 2 voltage types. Putting lower voltage plugs in with the higher voltage controller would see the plugs off soon enough.
Then controllers are known to give up due to being overloaded. I think it's an internal thermal fuse that burns out.
That's a fairly simple error, but not one a Mercedes specialist would make.

 

[Jule of the North]

I wouldn't expect the fuel to leak back to tank as suggested.
That was a common 'o' ring issue on earlier cars.

There is a way of checking battery voltage via the on screen display, sorry I couldn't tell you how as I would just get my meter out.
But that might give a clue, or not, to the battery being past it's best.

Tbh I would get the auto transmission fluid level checked, if only to eliminate that from the diagnostics. Level is important.
But how many miles on the car, and do you know if the fluid has ever been replaced?
Some garages will say the fluid is in there for life, ignore them that was sales bs.

It sounds like the selling garage isn't aware that glow plugs and controller need to be matched. There are 2 voltage types. Putting lower voltage plugs in with the higher voltage controller would see the plugs off soon enough.
Then controllers are known to give up due to being overloaded. I think it's an internal thermal fuse that burns out.
That's a fairly simple error, but not one a Mercedes specialist would make.

HI There, thank you for your post. The module and plugs are fine now, it is just getting my gears to engage in the morning. I cant see where my fluid dipstick is. Jules

 

[onefortheroad]

HI There, thank you for your post. The module and plugs are fine now.

They replaces the glow plugs twice, a they burned out, a new module and other bits and pieces. Over the last couple of weeks, the car doesn't like to start first thing in the morning, it takes a few clicks of glow plug lights several times before she fires up. Smoke comes out of both exhausts .






Sorry,but your contradicting yourself.

 

[Jule of the North]

I have had a friend around this afternoon telling me that it isnt the glow plugs or module, (as no warning lights come on). It does fire out smoke early in the morning, then its ok for the rest of the day, my friend thinks it could be the transmission fluid, as it takes a while for the fluid to go through the system. I just now want to find out if my car has a dipstick or is it all done electronically. My apologies for the confusion. Thanks Jules

 

[simmon01]

I have had a friend around this afternoon telling me that it isnt the glow plugs or module, (as no warning lights come on). It does fire out smoke early in the morning, then its ok for the rest of the day, my friend thinks it could be the transmission fluid, as it takes a while for the fluid to go through the system. I just now want to find out if my car has a dipstick or is it all done electronically. My apologies for the confusion. Thanks Jules

Change the fluid Jules. If it’s the 7 speed box I don’t think theres any way to check the fluid level other than to undo transmission sump plug and see if any comes out. There’s a plastic pipe that fits into the plug inside the box. The technique is to fiill with an electric pump until fluid comes back out when fill pipe is removed (so you won’t overfill) have a google on changing fluid in the 722.9 box and you’ll understand better than I can tell you on here.
It’s not a hard job, just have to be methodical and do it proper. Good luck!

 

[Wighty]

I have had a friend around this afternoon telling me that it isnt the glow plugs or module, (as no warning lights come on). It does fire out smoke early in the morning, then its ok for the rest of the day, my friend thinks it could be the transmission fluid, as it takes a while for the fluid to go through the system. I just now want to find out if my car has a dipstick or is it all done electronically. My apologies for the confusion. Thanks Jules

The gearbox fluid and filter need changing every 40k miles on that year E class .

 

[Jule of the North]

Thanks for the replies. I've got her in tomorrow at a local garage to check the fluid level. I aslo had the fault code reader and everything was green, no codes.... phew.