W210 Gearbox slow when cold

[mattsurf]

With the recent cold weather, I have noticed that my gearbox is very slow to engage (especially reverse) when the weather is cold. As soon as the car is moving it changes as normal, with no evidence of slip.

This week my car was parked at the aiport for a couple of days, when I got into it reverse took about a second before the car moved, and then it moved quite slowly.

I have not experienced this in my previous cars (the W124 I had held onto the revs longer when cold). The GB oil was changed in the summer. Could this be to do with GB oil level or maybe viscosity of the oil used?

Any thoughts would be welcom

Matt

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Who changed the atf, and has the level been tested since?

 

[BlackC55]

Thats the question that I would be asking too.

 

[mattsurf]

My local Indi changed the ATF in April

As the car has not been serviced since, the ATF level has not been checked. I will call the garage and see if they can check the ATF level

Matt

 

[mattsurf]

Talked to my Local indi - the problem was very easy to sort out - My kids had switched the gearbox from S to W - apparently this makes the car pull away much more gently. Now switched back to S and the gearbox is fine.

I presume the only use for the W setting is in snow or ice. The difference is far greater than in my previous W124 where the W setting just seemed to affect the kick down)

Matt

 

[television]

Nice to hear that Maff

 

[Glenn Smith]

Talked to my Local indi - the problem was very easy to sort out - My kids had switched the gearbox from S to W - apparently this makes the car pull away much more gently. Now switched back to S and the gearbox is fine.

I presume the only use for the W setting is in snow or ice. The difference is far greater than in my previous W124 where the W setting just seemed to affect the kick down)

Matt

Had exactly the same with mine, wandered why i had to use the throttle to back out of the drive when it would normaly pull out without, basicly the car is in 2nd from a standstill when W is selected and aids traction in slippery conditions.

 

[AllanMitchell]

I've got exactly the same issue, but am sure that switch box is in Sport, not Winter mode. Could the switch be faulty?

Allan

 

[robs-mbz]

Its a really common fault for the switch to stick in W mode. Its a simple fix, just a strip down and clean up of the little plunger that operates the switch, there is a thread somewhere on here showing you how.

 

[television]

Its a really common fault for the switch to stick in W mode. Its a simple fix, just a strip down and clean up of the little plunger that operates the switch, there is a thread somewhere on here showing you how.

Rob is correct and the switch can fall apart, and folk here just fix it in the S mode

 

[dieselman]

I've got exactly the same issue, but am sure that switch box is in Sport, not Winter mode. Could the switch be faulty?

Allan

With the car in D try rocking the switch from W to S and back. You should feel the gear change.
Another test is to pull away at idle and pull the gearstick back into 1st. If the box changes it's stuck in W mode.

Takes 10 mins to get the selector unit apart.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=6722&highlight=switch

 

[230K]

Hi

Here are a few pics of me freeing up the little push rod to the switch, sometimes it works without all the dismantling. You need to start at the bottom of the post and work up, i managed to post in the wrong order.

 

[230K]

Hi

A few more, be careful not to lose anything have a friend to help possibly. Excuse the dust on the interior it was a once off i promise..

Good luck

230K

 

[television]

Cant 230k's super pictures be put into the DIY section, they are worth so much more than words