E280 1998 Auto Gearbox Problems

[Steve_T]

Hi all,

I have transmission problems with my E280 1998 model. Its done 50K Miles

The gearbox sometimes seems to start only in Second gear and won't change up. Sometimes it will change up but then lets the car overev in a higher gear like third instead of changing to fourth. Occasionally it kinda 'clunks' into gear before driving off.

Sometimes is seems to run OK.

How can I check the transmission fluid level? There's no dipstick. Is there a way to check it by inserting a known length of tube or something like that?

Alternatively if I could get the exact amount of fluid required I could drain and refill it perhaps.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[LYNALL]

You can buy dipstick from main dealer.
I would try replacing fluid and filter first.

Lynall

 

[Steve_T]

I changed the ATF, filter and pan gasket. Still have problems where the box won't change gear, for example it will stay in 4th now and not change to fifth.

I'm thinking maybe the problem is outside of the box. I mean when I put the stick into Drive from Park, is this position sensed electronically? It seems strange that sometimes the box will run without any problems and other times it won't shift to fifth.

Is the gear lever shift position sensed electronically?

Maybe the position is not sensed right sometimes, like lit sees D4 instead of D?

Another thing I've noticed, if I shift through the gears when the lights are on (so i can see the shift position light up) I can never get the D1 position light on, like its not seeing the position.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Andy]

Hi

You need to get the fault codes read in the box before you do anything else. Only by reading the codes & checking the actuations in the box can any sort of diagnosis be carried out.


So a trip to you local stealership or independant to have the codes read. If its a independant you use make sure they can read the live data in the g\box as well.


Regards

Andy@ www.mercedesservicing.com