gearbox problem

[MFJ]

I have a '98 (R Reg) E300 TD, about 2 weeks ago, I accidentally hit the summer/winter mode auto 'box switch, selecting winter mode. As I don't drive the car often my wife drove around like this for approx 1 week. when we realised our mistake we re-selected summer mode. Since then the car has been under performing, I suspect the winter mode has remained selected, occasionally it does seem to go into summer mode, which has caused a few hairy moments as if your foot is well down the car will suddenly kickdown and accelerate. Any ideas???
Would disconnecting the battery negative terminal, for an hour help? this seems to be a cure-all for Merc electrical faults.

 

[pascal]

The gearbox is supposed to learn your style of driving (fuzzy logic) and if you notice a big difference than before, it could be a fault with this but I doubt it. There is not a vast difference between the two modes, but you should notice the earlier change downs and holding of the lower gears for longer whilst accelerating, in 'Standard' mode. Try being more gentle with the accelerator pedal in both modes and see if you can notice the difference. It should pull away in second gear at 'winter' setting, unless you put your foot right down to kickdown.

The adaptive learning process (fuzzy logic) is continious. In other words it monitors your driving all the time, and so continuely changes the timing of the gearshifts. If you drive very smoothly, you will find that it will hold on to the gears much longer. Regards it kicking down when you put your foot down a good bit on the pedal, this is normal. It takes a little bit of getting used to, especially if you have driven 4sp autos for a while.

So regards the accelerator petal: Press gently.

Pascal

 

[SLinKyjoe]

My slk has C/S on it. it actually makes no noticable difference to me. it dosent even make any difference to the fuel.....perhaps if i drive harder the change up in C mode may well occur earlier but i dont notice

the other day coming up a hill i wanted it to change up but it didnt. so i flicked the lever to + and surpisingly it chose the next gear even tho it was in d on the dash display. that was nice to find.

the kickdown can be influenced by pushing right down on the throttle pedal passed to resistnance at the end. it should have further travel on it. that makes it kickdown right then. it also knocks off you speed control limit if you had it engaged.

maybe yours has developed a fault and is in safe mode......

 

[230K]

Hi

Check link or see below it has happened mine a couple of times it is the rocker switch http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5188&page=2&pp=15&highlight=winter+summer

Got it sorted switch operates a little rod that disapears down into selector mechanism operating the real switch. This small plastic rod was stuck down (Winter mode) and after lifting it up and down a few times with a small piece of wire it released itself. Once assembled everthing worked fine. Thanks everyone

Brian

W202 C230K (Almost Sold )
W/T210 E300TD
W/T124 300TD

230K


Posts: 88
Join Date: Jul 2002
I have got my switch sorted over the weekend. The problem is not the switch that you can see with the W/S letters. As Brian pointed out, it is the bit connecting the rocker switch with the control module underneath it.
This is how I did it.
1. Remove the inner plastic trim on the gear selector
2. Remove the wood trim by lifting from the rear edge.
3. Remove the gear knob by twitching the lower black plastic lock anti-clockwise on the gear stick
4. Lift the gear knob away
5. Remove the next cover on top of the gear selector by levering out the 4 clips on the sides
6. peel of the black plastic bit with P,R, N, D ..... from the selector - this is only held down by a little bit of glue. Take care not to damage it as you will need to put it back in perfect condition. This will reveal the access to remove the switch itself from the gear selector indicator.
6. Use a tiny screwdrive or stiff wire - about 1mm in diameter - lever the clip over from the top edge of the rocker switch. The switch should come away from the main body freely.
7. Lift it slowly and beware a little spring below the switch. Don't let it drop into the assembly, otherwise
8. When the rocker switch is removed, you should see a small black peg. If this is down then freeing this will solve the problem or megabucks.
9. Take this peg out, clean the shaft and lubricate. Replace it hole then test it by pushing it up and down a few times. If it comes up then it is fixed.
10. Replace the rocker switch and trims in reverse order and

I have a few photos but they are too large to attach. If anybody wants them please let me know.

Hope this helps.

David.

 

[MFJ]

Thanks to all for their input, and I may well have to change the switch. However the problem has "developed" and I now believe it to be an engine/turbo problem. I will put the symptoms on the technical information and support section, to see what replies I get.
Thanks Again
MFJ