1999 c180 gearbox problem

[tommy408]

Just joined the forum and as usual i'm starting my posts with a problem.not the way i'd liked to have introduced myself , but thats the way forums tend to go.
recently aquired a 1999 c180,w202 i think?
problems i'm aware of:
the battery isnt original,in fact its from a vauxhall,wont hold charge,will be getting replaced.
brake lines are a mess,again will be getting replaced.
main issue,transmission,its an auto and it seems locked in second gear.engine revs to 4500 at 30mph so i doubt its 1st.
previous owner had replaced the complete transmission.
however i'm assuming its in "limp home" mode.
ran diagnostics check using easy obd,obd spy and a 3rd i cant recall(neighbours software)and came up with no faults at all.
i'm thinking that either the obd is stuffed because i know there are the above problems, i.e. voltage below 9.5 volts,brake issues.
the only other thing i can think of is the gear change control module or the change solenoids.

can anyone shed any light?

 

[tommy408]

after doing some research on the forum its occurred to me that it may be a valeo radiator associated problem.
how do i tell if i have said radiator?
my previous merc was a c1995 c220 and i know both cars have different radiators,the c220 had a header tank type of arrangement ontop of the main radiator core,the c180 doesnt.are either of theese the veleo type?i sound as though i know next to nothing about cars,i admit i know nothing about mercs though.
unfortunately i only had the c220 for around 3 months ,the suspension/steering failed on it 12 days ago and i managed to wedge it between 2 trees.that being my first mercedes i was so impressed i've taken on the c180 which was a neighbours project.

i'd love to fix the c180,i'm damned if i'm going back to driving fords n vauxhalls.

 

[tommy408]

on another note,i have the old style black plastic 2 button fob.however the key blade is missing.so i thought in case of a flat battery i'd better get a new blade cut.
called mercedes in Ayr,parts dept told me they cant order the blades.something about the whole fob being re-designed at some point and i'll need a complete fob.
£230 plus vat?
bugger that i thought.i then called mercedes in glasgow.same company different branch.
parts guy tells me "yes of course we can order the blade"
£30 plus vat.

so mercedes benz of ayr gets a thumbs down from me.
and
mercedes benz of glasgow gets a thumbs up.

 

[BlackC55]

The battery being low could be the cause of it bing stuck in 2nd. Get this fitted first the see if it sorts it.

An OBD reader will not read gearbox fault codes. It maybe best to get it on a Star firstly.

 

[BlackC55]

Your new blade probably wont fit your key. There are two types of key for your year 202. A large one and a small one. MB only supply blades only for the small one now.

 

[tommy408]

cheers black55.
battery is getting changed asap
and as for the key,i'm not fussed if it fits the fob.just as long as i can keep it on the keyring or in my wallet for emergencies.

 

[tommy408]

dunno if this'll help anyone.

phoned around today to get prices for putting the car on STAR

mercedes glasgow,£95 + VAT
merparts port glasgow £55 +VAT
fleet point newmilns £30 no VAT

fleet point
browns road
newmilns
east ayrshire
t 01560 322820
f 01560 322869

no i'm not connected to them in any way.but i feel a good deal deserves attention.