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A180d always pulling away in 1st gear

nickpb

Active Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
244
Location
Wiltshite
Car
A180d Sport Executive
I posted this question on the A-Class forum but have had no response, so posting it here in case anyone can help:

I've had my A180d just over a week now. The car is a September 2018 model but with only 4100 on the clock.
I love it so far but I'm struggling to pull away from stop without spinning the front wheels. I can tickle the accelerator and it will crawl forward slowly but anything other than a tickle and it leaps forward like a preying mantis pouncing on its prey. Doubtless I will master it in time but I wonder if there is a reason for this.

What I have noticed is that it always selects, and starts off in, D1, whether I am in Eco, Comfort, Sport, or Sport+. I always thought that in Comfort it started off in D2 - my previous E-Class and C-Class certainly did. I suspect that this might be the problem but wanted to see if anyone else has had the same experience. Maybe I need the gearbox remapping like some others have hinted at?

Any thoughts please?
 
Good question. ESP is turned on but the wheels still spin on 'take-off'. I can't say I've noticed the ESP active light come on when they spin but I'll double-check again tomorrow.
 
The A Class has a DCT dual clutch box whereas your previous cars would be normal torque converter automatic. It may just be that you are not yet used to the way the DCT box takes up the drive. My wife has the BMW DCT box on her Mini and there can be a slight lag sometimes which becomes a problem if I’m trying to start off a bit swiftly before the box is ready.

You could ask your dealer if you can test drive one of their demos to see if that is different. If it is then get them to sort it under warranty, may just be a software update needed.

Edit... tyre pressures aren’t too high?
 
Hmm, hadn't considered that. Maybe I need more time to get used to it.
Tyre pressures are fine - if anything, slightly lower, which should help
 
I think the answer to one of your questions is that the DCT box always starts in 1st as, incidentally, does the latest 9g torque converter automatic.
 
Slow speed driving with DCT does require a different approach to a normal torque converter - there's been a certain amount of reprogramming of right leg to go through with the arrival of the Cupra.

Is it particularly from engine off in start/stop mode, from engine running with handbrake engaged or just sat on the brake?
 
Is it particularly from engine off in start/stop mode, from engine running with handbrake engaged or just sat on the brake?

In start/stop mode it's less likely to do it. It's more noticeable when pulling off from a junction when just covering the brake (hold function not active)
 
I think the answer to one of your questions is that the DCT box always starts in 1st as, incidentally, does the latest 9g torque converter automatic.

Interesting. I had the 9g in my S213 and that always started off in 2nd (in Comfort).
 
Are you sure that its the wheels that are failing to grip and not one of the dual clutches? These gearboxes have two hydraulic pumps-one mechanical for when the gears are engaged and electric one to provide hydraulic pressure at rest - failure of the electric pump to supply adequate pressure at rest might lead to difficulty when moving off? Time perhaps to get the car on Star to check for any faults?
 
Interesting. I had the 9g in my S213 and that always started off in 2nd (in Comfort).
Well my S213 always starts in first (at least the display says D1) in comfort and sport.
 

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