2003 C-Class tiptronic mode failure???

[ddentrec]

Just got back from a 300 mile trip in my wife's 2003 C180K tiptronic with 25,000 miles.

Was cruising at 80mph on motorway: instrument panel shows 'S' mode and 'D'. OK so far.

Whilst overtaking, I manually shift from 'D' to '4' in tiptronic mode: gearbox shifts down smoothly and off I go. Instrument panel shows 'S' mode and '4'.. OK.

However, I then attempt to shift up from '4' to 'D' (5th gear) again using manual tiptronic mode: instrument panel shows 'S' mode and 'D' but transmission refuses to shift up (revs still showing 4th gear, and engine note tells me car has not shifted. No kidding--not dreaming or making this up. I know this car very well). Gearbox will not shift and car is stuck in 4th gear!

I slow car down to about 50, shift down again: car shifts to 'true' third: panel says '3' (correct). Can now shift up/down normally + correctly.

This failure to shift up happened twice in 20 minutes.

Thoughts????? Will get car booked in whilst it is still under warranty, though finding a decent franchised dealer is going to be a nightmare.

 

[miro]

Just got back from a 300 mile trip in my wife's 2003 C180K tiptronic with 25,000 miles.

Was cruising at 80mph on motorway: instrument panel shows 'S' mode and 'D'. OK so far.

Whilst overtaking, I manually shift from 'D' to '4' in tiptronic mode: gearbox shifts down smoothly and off I go. Instrument panel shows 'S' mode and '4'.. OK.

However, I then attempt to shift up from '4' to 'D' (5th gear) again using manual tiptronic mode: instrument panel shows 'S' mode and 'D' but transmission refuses to shift up (revs still showing 4th gear, and engine note tells me car has not shifted. No kidding--not dreaming or making this up. I know this car very well). Gearbox will not shift and car is stuck in 4th gear!

I slow car down to about 50, shift down again: car shifts to 'true' third: panel says '3' (correct). Can now shift up/down normally + correctly.

This failure to shift up happened twice in 20 minutes.

Thoughts????? Will get car booked in whilst it is still under warranty, though finding a decent franchised dealer is going to be a nightmare.

i can change to any gear with the force of my GO foot. Tiptronic is .... well its an idea and not much else. I know a number of people that try to squeeze out every ounce of performance from their motor and quite frankly the driver habit self-learning is far quicker than I am and I dont have to calculate the shift points.

Your car probably has learned you like to fiddle with the gear setting and it is probably ignoring you. Try letting off the GO and then shifting. You will find that when it inhales the gearbox learns a lot quicker.

 

[fuzzer]

i can change to any gear with the force of my GO foot. Tiptronic is .... well its an idea and not much else. I know a number of people that try to squeeze out every ounce of performance from their motor and quite frankly the driver habit self-learning is far quicker than I am and I dont have to calculate the shift points.

Your car probably has learned you like to fiddle with the gear setting and it is probably ignoring you. Try letting off the GO and then shifting. You will find that when it inhales the gearbox learns a lot quicker.

i agree with the self learning function. i can tell the difference in the car after another family member has driven it.

strange but true ....

 

[Rory]

Does sound like a fault, although I'll wager lots of money that it comes back as NFF.

Why would you downshift at 80MPH on the motorway anyway - OK, I'm used to the grunt of the 270CDi, but does the 180K really need that extra help?

 

[miro]

Does sound like a fault, although I'll wager lots of money that it comes back as NFF.

Why would you downshift at 80MPH on the motorway anyway - OK, I'm used to the grunt of the 270CDi, but does the 180K really need that extra help?

A kick on the go pedal does the same thing.

 

[ddentrec]

Does sound like a fault, although I'll wager lots of money that it comes back as NFF.

Why would you downshift at 80MPH on the motorway anyway - OK, I'm used to the grunt of the 270CDi, but does the 180K really need that extra help?

Re: 'NFF'--I agree: dealer really will not be bothered to investigate properly whilst car is under warranty...then when the warranty expires THEN they will be very interested

C180K may not have the grunt of the 270CDi, but the engine/'box response is really very good. If you are cruising and floor the pedal in a 270 or a 180 the transmission will shift down upto 80 MPH.

 

[Rory]

C180K may not have the grunt of the 270CDi, but the engine/'box response is really very good. If you are cruising and floor the pedal in a 270 or a 180 the transmission will shift down upto 80 MPH.

Oh I'm sure it will - especially in the C270, it would only be doing about 2500RPM at 80! I just can't imagine a situation (in normal driving) where I'd want to floor the throttle at 80 - I'd be doing 110 in the twinkling of an eye if I did that.

 

[Dieselman]

Just got back from a 300 mile trip in my wife's 2003 C180K tiptronic with 25,000 miles.

Was cruising at 80mph on motorway: instrument panel shows 'S' mode and 'D'. OK so far.

Whilst overtaking, I manually shift from 'D' to '4' in tiptronic mode: gearbox shifts down smoothly and off I go. Instrument panel shows 'S' mode and '4'.. OK.

However, I then attempt to shift up from '4' to 'D' (5th gear) again using manual tiptronic mode: instrument panel shows 'S' mode and 'D' but transmission refuses to shift up (revs still showing 4th gear, and engine note tells me car has not shifted. No kidding--not dreaming or making this up. I know this car very well). Gearbox will not shift and car is stuck in 4th gear!

I slow car down to about 50, shift down again: car shifts to 'true' third: panel says '3' (correct). Can now shift up/down normally + correctly.

This failure to shift up happened twice in 20 minutes.

Thoughts????? Will get car booked in whilst it is still under warranty, though finding a decent franchised dealer is going to be a nightmare.

It could be the selector switch inside the gearstick housing. The shift to 4 moves the switch one notch, maybe it's worn just enough to stop it Tipping back into D.

 

[jonm]

ddentrec

Hope I've interpreted you point correctly, if not appologies...here goes.

My understanding of the 'tiptronic' function is that it limits the range of gears used by the gearbox, not necessarily selects a specific gear for use. As such by shifting in to '4' from 'D', assuming that the box was in 5th (as it obviously was ) it is now limited to 4 gears and correctly shifts to 4th. Shifting it back to 'D' doesn't mean go to 5th rather more 'dear mr gearbox, if you wan't to select 5th, then please now feel free to do so'. My interepretation of the so called 'learning' function' or 'adaptive gearbox' it that in learning one's driving style it probably interprets a forced shift down to 4th as a 'so he they want more revs, then so they shall have' so when shifted back to 'D' is maintains the higher revs.. had similiar behaviour before and its always sorted itself out .. I spend 1/2 a mile drving along in 2nd once because I was using the tip to 'control' shifts when pulling away. Now, to be honest, I find the tipfunction pretty useless and never use .. just use the right foot stomp factor to control gear selection.

Again,if I have interpreted what you have said incorrectly, or got the tip fuction wrong, apologies, if so maybe my car is knackered as well??

Jonm