car going into limp mode

[mack]

hi guys

if you look at my previous posts then you will get some background.

the garage i used to have a recon box put in sent off my gear selector ecu

to specialist in nottinghamshire/derbyshire, they had a look and said it seems

fine, resoldered some joints just in case and said if it is still going into limp

mode try the connections to ecu, these have been checked, car drove great

for 2 weeks until the same problems started again, car is now stuck in limp

home. any suggestions of anything else i can check...below is things

already done:

1. recon box
2. replace torque converter
3. change speed plates
4. checked connections on ecu
5. changed atf fluid
6. cleared faults

 

[television]

Do you have any warning lamps up on the dash

 

[teabag]

hi guys

if you look at my previous posts then you will get some background.

the garage i used to have a recon box put in sent off my gear selector ecu

to specialist in nottinghamshire/derbyshire, they had a look and said it seems

fine, resoldered some joints just in case and said if it is still going into limp

mode try the connections to ecu, these have been checked, car drove great

for 2 weeks until the same problems started again, car is now stuck in limp

home. any suggestions of anything else i can check...below is things

already done:

1. recon box
2. replace torque converter
3. change speed plates
4. checked connections on ecu
5. changed atf fluid
6. cleared faults

Hi Mack,

I hope I do not have the same problems as you, My W210 E320CDi has done this to me (refused to change from 1st or 2nd gear) on several occasions over the last few months, always after a night of cold weather; however stopping the car, putting it into Park and switching off the engine for a few seconds and restarting has always cured the fault.
This led me to believe low battery voltage was the problem until last week; I had put the car into a local bodyshop to tackle the rust problems where it stayed for 5 days, on collection last Friday it refused to change from 1st no matter how many times I stopped and restarted.
I still thought this could be due to the battery (although it did not appear to be flat) so I drove the car 4 miles to my home and put the battery on charge overnight.
The problem was still there on Saturday morning so I had the RAC transport the car to my local indie 30 miles away, the guy who owns the garage (and has 12 years experience as service manager at the local MB dealers) said it was quite a common fault for what he termed "the electronics pack in the gearbox" to fail and show these symptoms; he said this pack which costs £130 from MB resides in the rear portion of the gearbox and will cost about £200 to fit as he has to remove the sump and drain the oil to dismantle the rear section of the box.

I didn't have time to question him further so I left him to get on with the job at 11am on Saturday as I had to sort out a hire car for my journey to work on Monday morning.
I have been told the car will be ready to collect at 5pm on Monday so I will keep you posted as to whether this worked as I can imagine a locally reconditioned gearbox would have only had the worn mechanical and hydraulic components renewed, not the electronic modules inside it.

In the meantime if anyone on the forum can enlighten me as to what this pack is and also it's function, I will be grateful

 

[kebo57]

Hi some pic's here
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=46442
on the end of my thread would be better tied in with the russian websit relating to what it actually does but can't access from where I'm posting

Kevin

 

[teabag]

Hi some pic's here
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=46442
on the end of my thread would be better tied in with the russian websit relating to what it actually does but can't access from where I'm posting

Kevin

Thanks Kevin,
This certainly looks like what my guy is talking about, at least I now know what the part he removes should look like when I ask to see it (not that I am a cynical person, Heh Heh).
I'm not too familiar with the Russian site apart from getting vehicle spec from VIN but I'll have a look anyway.

 

[kebo57]

Thanks Kevin,
This certainly looks like what my guy is talking about, at least I now know what the part he removes should look like when I ask to see it (not that I am a cynical person, Heh Heh).
I'm not too familiar with the Russian site apart from getting vehicle spec from VIN but I'll have a look anyway.

The russian website will show most of the parts that attatch to this unit, then it might be possible to work out just what it all does.

Kevin

 

[television]

I have never had the time to work it out, but as the name suggest, the ECU gives the signals as to when to change gear and the solenoids on this elecro plate control the changes, if it fails then it cannot change gear. The ECU knows that something is wrong, and to stop any further damge from taking place its just locks the box up

 

[teabag]

Thanks Malcolm,
The information you gave is short and concise, just what I need to understand the problem.
Unfortunately the repair is still ongoing as the part sent from the dealer was the wrong one; my indie is now awaiting a DHL delivery of the correct component from the factory, hopefully this should arrive on Wednesday so I'll keep you posted as to the outcome

 

[television]

90% are the electro plate at fault.

Though saying this, If a CAN signal is at fault, that is the two end pins on the ECU plug are not making good contact, then this can do it.

The longest post on this forum had this fault, a poor connection on the gearbox plug, and the CAN wires were at fault as no information was received back from the box

 

[teabag]

Problem now sorted after fitment of new electro plate, however they had to fit a new battery as well because fault recurred after the car had stood for a few hours awaiting me to collect it, HMMMMM!!!!!; anyway its now ok after a total outlay of £450.

 

[television]

Pleased its fixed and the price was not too bad, though I have seen it done a little cheaper, if that included the battery then very good

 

[teabag]

Yes, it did include the battery so it was not too bad; but I can't help wondering, was I correct in assuming the battery was at fault for the whole scenario.
Anyway Malcolm, thanks again for your interest and helpful comments.

 

[kebo57]

Yes, it did include the battery so it was not too bad; but I can't help wondering, was I correct in assuming the battery was at fault for the whole scenario.
Anyway Malcolm, thanks again for your interest and helpful comments.

Hi no way that battery caused the limp mode
I had problems with the battery during my limping and I replaced it and the limp continued, so you haven't wasted you money

Kevin

 

[mack]

hi guys sorry i havent been in touch....personal issues
in response to television ....no there are no warning lights on at all
the car is a c220 cdi on 2000w with 130k