Loss of power / no kickdown / no manual shifting

[Doorsey]

Hi all - I've just joined having recently bought a 2012 E350cdi w212 automatic convertible. I've done 2,000 great miles.

However, yesterday morning I noticed there was no kickdown, no manual shifting, a lack of power, and while the car would eventually get up to 60mph it would only go up to 5th gear, no higher. When starting from traffic lights it seems to want to hold onto 2nd until 3000rpm until it goes into 3rd, then the same again to try to get into 4th. The day before I'd spent 2 hours on the motorway at 60-70 with no issues (and it was a hot day). I did not get any warning lights on the dash.

I waited 6 hours for the RAC (bank holiday Saturday) and eventually got a local company to come out instead. He plugged his diagnostic device in and said there was a 'pending' DPF code (but we forgot to write down the error code number). I then drove the car up and down the road (in town so not quick) but I was able to manually shift from 2-3, and kickdown seemed to be working again. We then plugged the diagnostic reader back in so we could get the error code, but there was no longer any codes showing. So I started my journey home but within a few minutes the same issue happens - no kickdown, no manual shifting, lack of power etc.

I checked out these 2 threads (amongst others) as they had very similar symptoms:

- Loss of Power
- No boost or kickdown

So perhaps something to do with the DPF pressure sensor/filter? or turbo actuator? (but that does seem to move when I turn the ignition).

Another thread mentioned possibly low trans fluid or the gearbox needs a service, but the gearbox was last services Nov 2022 at 68K and the car has now done 76K and the red dipstick I pulled out (long and slightly twisty at the back right of the engine) seemed to show there was plenty of fluid in there.

Does anyone recommend a good specialist for my area (south Oxfordshire). I've heard of Star Motors in Reading but they are booked up until June. I'm also unsure if the car is still safe to drive or am I risking further damage?

It's my first Mercedes and I love it, so any advice would be welcomed. Happy bank holiday!

 

[Wighty]

Did you buy from MB , you will have Mobilio breakdown cover (run by the RAC) .
Do you have a warranty from a dealer ?
A lot of us use icarsoft diagnostic stuff for diy work to get codes .
A good honest local garage (if you don’t get a local specialist recommendation) could go a long way to sorting the problem.
Good luck buddy .
Where in S Oxfordshire are you ?

 

[Wighty]

The red dipstick is engine oil , not gearbox !

 

[Wighty]

MBS is a specialist in Southampton .

 

[Doorsey]

Hi Wighty - thanks for the response. I bought from an independent dealer and he told me it has a 3 month AA warranty (expires in 6 days). Not only is he away for the bank holiday (fair enough of course) but I'm already having an issue with him as the roof leaks (and I specifically asked him if the roof was 100% OK when I bought the car) - so it's already got a bit ugly and I was hoping if this was a quick fix I'd just do it myself.

So does that mean that I can use Mobilio? I wasn't quite sure what it was, and thought it was for newer cars that had only been serviced at the main dealer (my car has 10 service stamps - 9 of which are MB and 1 is an independent garage).

I was looking at the icarsoft diagnostic stuff and the Autel - happy to buy one if I think I'll use it regularly (my last car for over 20 years was a Lotus Esprit and a similar software called FreeScan came in VERY handy ). I saw this on another thread from icarsoft, but there are a few models and I don't know yet which one would be most useful.

I'm near Abingdon (for 2 months).

 

[Doorsey]

The red dipstick is engine oil , not gearbox !

shows what a muppet I am under a bonnet!

 

[Wighty]

shows what a muppet I am under a bonnet!

You are only a certified muppet if you tipped the wrong oil into the wrong tube

 

[mjcbulmer]

Hi all - I've just joined having recently bought a 2012 E350cdi w212 automatic convertible. I've done 2,000 great miles.

However, yesterday morning I noticed there was no kickdown, no manual shifting, a lack of power, and while the car would eventually get up to 60mph it would only go up to 5th gear, no higher. When starting from traffic lights it seems to want to hold onto 2nd until 3000rpm until it goes into 3rd, then the same again to try to get into 4th. The day before I'd spent 2 hours on the motorway at 60-70 with no issues (and it was a hot day). I did not get any warning lights on the dash.

I waited 6 hours for the RAC (bank holiday Saturday) and eventually got a local company to come out instead. He plugged his diagnostic device in and said there was a 'pending' DPF code (but we forgot to write down the error code number). I then drove the car up and down the road (in town so not quick) but I was able to manually shift from 2-3, and kickdown seemed to be working again. We then plugged the diagnostic reader back in so we could get the error code, but there was no longer any codes showing. So I started my journey home but within a few minutes the same issue happens - no kickdown, no manual shifting, lack of power etc.

I checked out these 2 threads (amongst others) as they had very similar symptoms:

- Loss of Power
- No boost or kickdown

So perhaps something to do with the DPF pressure sensor/filter? or turbo actuator? (but that does seem to move when I turn the ignition).

Another thread mentioned possibly low trans fluid or the gearbox needs a service, but the gearbox was last services Nov 2022 at 68K and the car has now done 76K and the red dipstick I pulled out (long and slightly twisty at the back right of the engine) seemed to show there was plenty of fluid in there.

Does anyone recommend a good specialist for my area (south Oxfordshire). I've heard of Star Motors in Reading but they are booked up until June. I'm also unsure if the car is still safe to drive or am I risking further damage?

It's my first Mercedes and I love it, so any advice would be welcomed. Happy bank holiday!

Could try AutoMerc in Newbury or PSC Cheltenham.

 

[AMGeed]

Hi Wighty - thanks for the response. I bought from an independent dealer and he told me it has a 3 month AA warranty (expires in 6 days). Not only is he away for the bank holiday (fair enough of course) but I'm already having an issue with him as the roof leaks (and I specifically asked him if the roof was 100% OK when I bought the car) - so it's already got a bit ugly and I was hoping if this was a quick fix I'd just do it myself.

So does that mean that I can use Mobilio?

If your last service was at a main dealer, that entitles you to 12 months Mobilio from the date it was serviced.

 

[Doorsey]

Could try AutoMerc in Newbury or PSC Cheltenham.

Thanks !

 

[Doorsey]

If your last service was at a main dealer, that entitles you to 12 months Mobilio from the date it was serviced.

Thanks AMGeed - that's really good to know. I ended up having to pay £40 excess to RAC (didn't even know there was such a thing for breakdown)

 

[Doorsey]

UPDATE
The EML was on yesterday morning when I started the car so I called out Mercedes Mobilo. A very professional person came out with far more diagnostic machinery than the RAC and confirmed it was the DP sensor. So I just need to have that replaced - I think this is the part.

The Diagnostics did find 2 other small issues which I'm not sure what to do about (or if anything - see attached):
1. an issue with the "Interior protection and tow-away protection"
2. the output for actuator motor 'Additional door lock' has a malfunction. There is a short circuit to positive or an open circuit.

Anyway - really impressed by the Mobilo man - now I just need to get to a local independent to have that new sensor fitted.

 

[Doorsey]

You are only a certified muppet if you tipped the wrong oil into the wrong tube

Oh - I showed him the red dipstick thingy and proudly said - there's plenty of engine oil in there, to which he replied "that's the gearbox oil level, not the engine oil". He said the car didn't have a manual method of checking the engine oil. I guess that's displayed on the dashboard screen if it gets low?

 

[Wighty]

Oh - I showed him the red dipstick thingy and proudly said - there's plenty of engine oil in there, to which he replied "that's the gearbox oil level, not the engine oil". He said the car didn't have a manual method of checking the engine oil. I guess that's displayed on the dashboard screen if it gets low?

I’m still going out on a limb (not really ) and saying it’s engine oil , the 7g 2012 E class doesn’t have a gearbox oil tube , it’s a fill from below from the sump plug .

 

[Doorsey]

I’m still going out on a limb (not really ) and saying it’s engine oil , the 7g 2012 E class doesn’t have a gearbox oil tube , it’s a fill from below from the sump plug .

well - as long as the Mercedes service people know which to fill up where at the next service I'm happy! Now to order some new front discs and pads.

 

[Doorsey]

Just a quick update - I got the replacement sensor, followed some great instructions from here, but 2 of us simply could not get the old sensor prized out from the rubber tubes, even having removed the jubilees (still attached in the photo).

Don't know what to do - call out a mobile mechanic I guess, but still not sure how they will get it off either!

clips.

 

[harrye500]

Well how odd! I watched the video and it shouldn't be difficult at all. Looks like braided type hose and looks very tight in there, recommend some light brute force (but careful the old part doesn't snap off part in the hose)! Also on your leaky roof, these models aren't common for leaking roofs. What sort of leak is it i.e. under pressure (a jetwash or such like) or general rain?

 

[Wighty]

Just a quick update - I got the replacement sensor, followed some great instructions from here, but 2 of us simply could not get the old sensor prized out from the rubber tubes, even having removed the jubilees (still attached in the photo).

Don't know what to do - call out a mobile mechanic I guess, but still not sure how they will get it off either!

View attachment 94986 clips.

Spray some lube where the pipes meet the sensor and use a wide bladed screwdriver gently to try and get some movement on the pipes ?

 

[Doorsey]

Well how odd! I watched the video and it shouldn't be difficult at all. Looks like braided type hose and looks very tight in there, recommend some light brute force (but careful the old part doesn't snap off part in the hose)! Also on your leaky roof, these models aren't common for leaking roofs. What sort of leak is it i.e. under pressure (a jetwash or such like) or general rain?

Hi Wighty - well, after several attempts (hours apart to let the scuffed knuckles recover) we eventually got it off. I slid a nail file in between the top of the rubber and the bottom of the plastic to open a gap of a mm or so, then got a flat head screwdriver in there to get another couple of mm's, and then finally used a spanner to twist it down enough to eventually pull it off. All in all, must have taken about 2 hours of trying between the 2 of us - we even tried WD40 and some washing up to try and make it easier.

 

[Doorsey]

Well how odd! I watched the video and it shouldn't be difficult at all. Looks like braided type hose and looks very tight in there, recommend some light brute force (but careful the old part doesn't snap off part in the hose)! Also on your leaky roof, these models aren't common for leaking roofs. What sort of leak is it i.e. under pressure (a jetwash or such like) or general rain?

As for the leak - only when it really hammers it down or rains for many hours - like all night long. It drops down from the top of the passenger side where the roof joins the windscreen. I also get a whistling noise from about 40-50mph so was wondering if it was just the seals.

So a bit like this thread. I also wondered if it had accumulated water a bit like this YouTube, but looking at the underside near the rear jacking points I couldn't be sure which the black gromets are.

However, as the diagnostic also came back that the Interior protection and tow-away protection (IRS) has a communication error, the mechanic did suggest that maybe water has leaked into it if I am also getting a leaking roof (as it is situated at the middle/top of the windscreen).

I bought a half cover for the car which I pop on if it looks like it's going to rain all night, and so far that has worked fine. However, I also need to check the A pillars are clear, but again haven't looked up how to do that yet - next task!