New bloke driving an automatic

[joneseythedog]

Dear All

I've just bought a 1995 C180 automatic, and as I've only ever driven cars with manual gears would appreciate any useful info. re proper driving.

Everything I know is this:

* I've become aware of the 'kickdown' facility, which is the rapid changing-down of gear upon a good push on the accelerator (as far as I understand it), but am not sure how useful this is when driving up a hill.

* I have read in the manual that the '2' and '3' positions on the gear selector limit the highest gear.

* Positions 'S' and 'E' are for Standard and Economy respectively, with 'S' being the normal position.

What I would like to know is:

* Is it ok to change to '2' or '3' from 'D' when the car is moving?

* My accelerator pedal feels a little sticky/jerky in its initial travel, which is a bit tricky when parking, due to the kickdown effect above Is this just something to get a 'feel' for, or should I be lubricating the throttle linkage?

Any tips/bits of advice would be handy - most of my driving is the daily 12 mile route to work, starting in slightly hilly countryside and ending in flat urban traffic. Parking at home involves reversing off the street up my steep drive.

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

 

[television]

Dear All

I've just bought a 1995 C180 automatic, and as I've only ever driven cars with manual gears would appreciate any useful info. re proper driving.

Everything I know is this:

* I've become aware of the 'kickdown' facility, which is the rapid changing-down of gear upon a good push on the accelerator (as far as I understand it), but am not sure how useful this is when driving up a hill.

* I have read in the manual that the '2' and '3' positions on the gear selector limit the highest gear.

* Positions 'S' and 'E' are for Standard and Economy respectively, with 'S' being the normal position.

What I would like to know is:

* Is it ok to change to '2' or '3' from 'D' when the car is moving?

* My accelerator pedal feels a little sticky/jerky in its initial travel, which is a bit tricky when parking, due to the kickdown effect above Is this just something to get a 'feel' for, or should I be lubricating the throttle linkage?

Any tips/bits of advice would be handy - most of my driving is the daily 12 mile route to work, starting in slightly hilly countryside and ending in flat urban traffic. Parking at home involves reversing off the street up my steep drive.

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

Hi Andrew and welcome.

Yes you can change the gear sift when the car is moving, just bear in mind that if you change from say 3 to 2 and the car is going faster than the max speed for that gear nothing will happen until the car slows down to under the max for that gear.

I think that your throttle cable need lubricating as you can only feel the kick down at max throttle

With the E and S in the S changes take place later at full throttle

The car will always be in the right gear at the right time, but going uphill if you want to over take something you can move the gear shift back to 2-3 this is more economical than using kick down

 

[kid-jensen]

Andrew,

It's actually desirable to move the stick from D to 3 or 2 as in the lower gears you get engine braking and a quicker response along country lanes where you can "hang the back-end out" (well, maybe not in a C-180!).

Using a lower gear uphill gives the torque converter an easier life (less slip), and will use less fuel in most situations. You don't have to push the accelerator down as far as the kickdown switch to maintain good progress.

Once you've got used to an Auto, there's no going back. Manual boxes belong in the same museum as laces on trainers and manual Advance-Retard controls.....technology has moved on.......

That should get a reply or two!

The jerky throttle action is common. Lubricate the engine-side linkages, shafts etc with ATF and get some oil into the cable if it is in good enough condition to not need replacing. Disconnect the cable at the engine end and make up a funnel with paper and sellotape so you can hold the caple high and pour oil into it. Don't overdo it or you'll get interesting spots on your drivers carpet.

After that treatment, it should be almost as smooth as other cars.

 

[Ron Palfrey]

Andrew,

The jerky throttle action is common. Lubricate the engine-side linkages, shafts etc with ATF and get some oil into the cable if it is in good enough condition to not need replacing. Disconnect the cable at the engine end and make up a funnel with paper and sellotape so you can hold the caple high and pour oil into it. Don't overdo it or you'll get interesting spots on your drivers carpet.

After that treatment, it should be almost as smooth as other cars.

I have a C280 which isn't THAT different in layout, just a bigger engine. I found it easier to lubricate the cable from the foot pedal end. Undo the cable from the pedal, pull it out of the rubber grommet into the engine compartment and, if it is the same as mine, you have a ready made funnel for your oil. Took me about 2 hours to work the oil all along the cable, but well worth it.

Ron

 

[mike65]

OT question, when did Merc boxes drop the S/E or do they still use it on electronic boxes?

Mike.

 

[NewMB]

OT question, when did Merc boxes drop the S/E or do they still use it on electronic boxes?

Mike.

I would say that they still have them. Mine is a 2006 model and it certainly does have the E and S button. Big difference acctually between the two.

 

[Eric Tilley]

Hi Andrew.
One point about using the auto in manual mode is to do the changes in good time. For example if you are manually in 4 don`t wait to the last moment to go down into 3 cos the auto may preemp you and decide you are too slow for that gear and change down for you, which if this is the moment you decide to downshift you will end up in 2 and wonder what the mechanical commotion is about.
On the latest boxes the buttons are S &C (sport and comfort)actually, thinking about it I have in fact got M, S & C perhaps that is because the car has the up and down flippers on the steering wheel.

 

[television]

OT question, when did Merc boxes drop the S/E or do they still use it on electronic boxes?

Mike.

With the electric boxes many went over to W-S the main difference was that W is a second gear start and S a first gear start, and W giving the choice of two speeds in reverse

 

[Devonian]

With the electric boxes many went over to W-S the main difference was that W is a second gear start and S a first gear start, and W giving the choice of two speeds in reverse

Ah that's interesting Malcolm. I thought reverse had two speeds but have never been able to detect a change, obviously because I drive in 'S'

 

[C220GJS]

Regarding the kickdown on your box, because of the vacuum control on your gearbox you have a kickdown at about midthrottle which you can use to change down on demand without flooring the throttle to hit the electric kickdown switch , very controllable once you get used to it allowing smooth and rapid progress through the twisty bits.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Desending steep gradients especially with passengers aboard using 2nd or 3rd
stops the car from running away from you, so to speak.
TB

 

[C220GJS]

Selecting 3rd in a 30mph limit will also help to keep your licence intact.

 

[whitenemesis]

Don't switch between S and E modes while moving....

 

[television]

Don't switch between S and E modes while moving....

It does not make any difference

 

[hawk20]

Many would say stick it in D and just drive it. The box is so good and so clever at adapting to your driving style that you will find if you let it, it will learn to change gear just about when you would want to.

Downhill for engine braking, go for 2 or 3.

Use S all year unless you meet snow/ice/ slippery conditions and then E or W (for Winter) will start off in 2nd with less chance of slipping.

After you have really got the hang of driving in D almost all the time, then play around with tiptronic. Can be useful when sitting behind a lorry waiting for a gap as you can get into the optimum gear for a real surge when the gap appears.

 

[whitenemesis]

It does not make any difference

My apologies, you are correct. I miss-read my manual :Oops:

 

[joneseythedog]

Thanks for all of your responses. I'm sure I'll be making use of this site in the future, and will hopefully be able to contribute something of worth in time.

I'll certainly have a go at lubricating the throttle cable, and will see what happens with 2 and 3.

What is 'tiptronic'?

In the meantime....
Have been experimenting a bit with the throttle today. Pushed down firmly when going at around 40mph and was almost pinned-back in my seat by the acceleration until I eased-off at around 60. On the other hand, driving up the twisty wooded hill this morning I was only managing around 40 (50 is normally ok). I suspect the throttle was a bit past half-way but not quite at full. At any rate, the gear didn't change until I got to the top.

Looking forward to tomorrow's drive. If it rains I'll be able to try-out the windscreen wiper too!

Andrew

 

[whitenemesis]

I love that single wiper action!! But don't have it on my c270

Tiptronic .... whilst in drive you can manually change up and down by nudging the selector left or right

 

[Phil D]

My view of the wiper is that it was a sad case of form over function - very pretty to look at & certainly mechanichally clever but give me my two standard wipers in very heavy rain any day of the week - in a W202 I was caught out a few times having great difficulty even on fast wipe mode
shame really

 

[jberks]

Tiptronic .... whilst in drive you can manually change up and down by nudging the selector left or right

No tiptronic on a 1995 C class.
It's a 4 speed so behaviour is a bit different to the tip 5 speed boxes. However, its a very good tried and tested box. Yes, you can fiddle with the lever but you really don't need to.
You say you've just got it. Do check that the gearbox oil and filters have been replaced. An often neglected maintenance task!