C200CDi Auto surges when cold

[titian]

Hi, '04 C200CDi auto, 155k, 646.96230203167 has an annoying little fault. When I pull away in low temperatures with a cold gearbox, the drive surges & lurches. This stops after 5 miles or so (gearbox warmed up?). I've changed the fluid & filter (Total G3) & it's a little less horrid. Fluid level is OK.
Any ideas please?

 

[sweeper]

why do you think it is gearbox related? And is the oil you have fitted the correct type? Is it not possible that the engine is causing the problem, MAF or EGR fault maybe?

 

[titian]

Engine runs fine. I left the engine to warm-up for 15 minutes, hot air from vents etc & still had the problem when I drove away. It feels like it's trying to change up but hasn't got the oomph/pressure/whatever to hold the higher gear. It becomes smoother, i.e. doesn't "hunt" if you apply more power but there's a limit on how fast you want to be going, especially on mountain roads or in town. When I go straight to the dual-carrigeway, ~1000 yards, it's lurchy 'till the slip-road then boot it to 70 ish, pop the cruise on & no worries.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

there was a number of cars affected by faulty radiators which leak gearbox oil into the coolant or vice versa, your symptoms COULD be related to this and this may explain why changing oil has eased it.

ive had customers who have had the gearbox checked by autobox specialists, who have been told gearbox is fine, we have then checked and found glycol contamination.

your best bet i feel would be to get someone who knows these cars to check it out,


as the previous poster states it may not be gearbox related at all.

 

[titian]

Thanks MB tech & Sweeper. I'll book it in for a check. It'd be a mite inconvenient if it spews its' guts in the middle of Spain.