SLK 350 Manual Transmission Issue

[AG1]

Hello,
I have a 2005 SLK 350 with manual transmission. Sometimes when I am on a stop sign or traffic light --ready to go with the clutch in and the stick shift on first gear-- I release the clutch, but then the gear pops out to neutral and a very load noise is heard throughout the cabin of the vehicle. This happens about once every three weeks at very random times.

Does anybody know about this problem?

Also, the shifting from 1st to 2nd gear feels as if it has a double click. Is that normal?

 

[dava]

First to second sychro hub gone, major overhaul needed.

 

[AG1]

Thank you Dava.
My question is...I have taken the car to two Mercedes dealerships and both have said that the -- shifting from first to second-- issue is absolutely normal in the SLK 350. I need to know if this is true.

Any opinions out there?

 

[DougCLK320]

That's certainly not "normal" in my book.
I'd take it back and, assuming you're out of warranty, try for a goodwill contribution from MB towards what, almost certainly, will be a large bill.
I managed to get them to pay for a pair of rear springs - best part of £500.
Be nice!! Don't get stroppy!!! A "friendly" servicing manager can pull a few strings....
Doug

 

[AG1]

Thank you, I will have to try that. I just can't figure out why two different places would say it is normal. Wouldn't they prefer to say there is something wrong and charge me to fix it? That's where my doubts lay.

 

[television]

There has been many problem with this box over the years, all mainly to do with hard 1-2 changes, also with the first gear shaft, with modified bushes and syncro parts, larger shafts with modified bushes.

The fact remains that if the car pushes the gear out, that shows the the gear teeth faces are wearing wrong, and as the wear gets worse, it will push the gear out more and more.
The last cure some years back was for this same fault, where the first gear was not fully engaged, the modified bushes and larger shaft helped this.

 

[AG1]

Thank you Malcom.

What would you do in my case? would you leave it as it is and believe what MB dealerships are telling me...that this is normal? or is it worth having the box dismounted and looked into?

 

[keith100]

Hi AG1

Usually the first sign that the syncromesh has become syncromash, is hard down shifting , esp. into 2nd and 1st. Eventually you have to double declutch to achieve a shift, but you can live with it- I still sometimes DD just for the fun of it. How is your box in this respect?

Popping out of gear in my experience is usually worn out dogs - as Dava says major rebuild, I'm afraid. Don't know about the double click into second, but it doesn't sound right to me. Unless it "sounds" right for a box about go wrong!!

Good luck

PS Just occurred to me -you could be lucky and just have a badly adjusted shifter linkage, which doesn't always push the selectors home fully?

 

[television]

This is very hard, not so much info around on the 716.664 box, the point is it should not jump out of gear, what are MB going to do if it gets worse and runs out of warrantee