Transmission slip when cold?

[Locky]

Hi all... I'm new here and a new MB owner. I have a question. I've just bought an E220 cdi with 109000 miles on the clock and a full MB service history.
The issue I am having is when I start the car up from cold in the morning. I drive down to the junction at the end of the road. There is always a lot of traffic so I might have to sit there for 30 seconds... maybe a minute with the car in drive. When I go to pull away the revs go up to about 3k and the car moves like it's underpowered. Then is seems to change down a gear and I get upto about 4k rpm and I'm off... It only does this once in the morning then it runs fine, and it only does it if I sit stationary for a while with the car in drive.
It's never had the ATF changed so I'm looking to get this done and I was hoping it will solve the problem. Has anyone else come across this problem?

Also do all cdi's have rough idling? is there a cure. My car seems to hunt slightly.

Sorry one last question... is 60c the right running temp for my car. It never gets near 80c...

Sorry for all the Questions...

 

[concordepilot19]

I have a C220 CDi (W reg 2000) with the 2151 cc engine, 5 speed auto, I assume similar to your E220 CDi. It has 113,000 on the clock with full MBSH and I've had it since 42,000 miles.

I read about the "cold pulling away" problem on another forum, and the very next day suffered it myself when waiting at my first junction. At the time, I was waiting for a replacement auto box electrical plug which had started leaking ATF. The service manager didn't know if the problems were related but my new plug was fitted this morning so I'll write again if it recurs.

I've never had a problem with rough idling, I assume your glow plug light goes out immediately the engine fires, otherwise you have one or more defective glow plugs. Apparently, the copper washers on the fuel injectors need replacing sometimes and that this can fix a number of running problems.

Assuming your temperature gauge is reading correctly, and that the cooling fan isn't running constantly, 60 C seems a bit low. Mine runs a shade under 80 C.

Have you worked out your fuel consumption ? The official figures are in the back of the handbook. If you need to convert mpg into L/100km, divide 284.15 by your mpg, eg 46mpg is 6.2 L/100km.

If your consumption is wildly out, it might indicate a problem. Finally, the MB dealer should have "cleared" any engine management faults shown on a major service, you could always get them to verify this, or get them to check it over....ask for a quote first though !

 

[Locky]

Thanks for your reply concordepilot19 ... your info was more than helpful. I did wonder if I had an ATF leak which has given me a low fluid level causing air in the system. I'm going to Star Autos in Reading on tuesday. They seem to know all about the gearbox, I found their number on this forum.

I'm not tooooo worried about the rought idling as it isn't really that bad... but I am more concerned about the temp... I might just replace the thermostat if it's easy to do. My mpg seems ok.... according to the onboard comp I'm getting about 44mpg on a motorway run... down to about 34 around town.

Thanks again for your info... If you find anything else please let me know. I will post what happens on tuesday

 

[bigt]

slipping gearbox

My 190 did this when cold in a morning - oil change cured it. Also the engine temp being low could be a factor as the gearbox is cooled off the radiator. Before the oil change, mine was worse when cold but was ok once the engine was upto 80 degrees. Hope this may help.
trev

 

[Locky]

well I replaced the stat... To my horror when I removed the old one it was actually closed. So I thought that wasn't the problem. So I fitted the new one anyway and what an improvment. The car now runs at 90c The gearbox is smooth. My fuel consumption is a lot better and the engine doesn't hunt anymore... the stat was expensive at near £30.. but well worth it.
I'm going to get my gearbox oil changed on Tuesday... will probally get the torque convertor done too.