Auto Box Worry

[Stoobzie]

I recently bought my c180 auto so i can drive to hospital appointments with a broken leg. i know enough about cars to carry out work myself but nothing about an auto. my merc changes at low revs when it is driven from cold, but now when the car has been driven a few hours before, and is then cold again it wont change into 3rd untill it goes all the way round to 3000rpm, then a bang into gear when it does go? once the car is warmed up all works perfect and smooth but is increasingly rough when the box is colder? is this normall ? also the box's dipstick is very hard to read and normally shows oil half way up the stick! thanks,

 

[mauno]

Need fluid change. And measure with stick when warm!

 

[Stoobzie]

ah i see. thanks for the advice. im in two minds about getting it seen to as its only a temporary car for me, and even more so as for £450 with a full mb service history and 75000 miles, mot'd an taxed i cant really complain about any probs. already covered over 2k in it with only problem being a corroded full line.

as i say, once the car has warmed it is fine just on heat up? otherwise a very smooth comfy car

do i just drive it to death?

 

[DSM10000]

As suggested, check the fluid level. A low level can cause problems with change quality.

On most automatics you need the gearbox fully warmed up and then hold the lever in Drive, Reverse and then Park for 15 seconds or so to ensure the fluid has moved around the gearbox and that you are measuring the level correctly.

Might be worth asking a local auomatic gearbox specialist for a quote to change the fluid. The car was cheap but it may be worth spending £150 or so if it sorts out the problem, It could of course be that there are other problems that make it uneconomic to fix but i suspect it is fluid level and / or age of the fluid.

 

[Stoobzie]

ok will get that done tonight. there is no local specialtist of any type around my area, i live in the middle of no where ! hence the purchase in the first place, hospital appointments after a skiing accident take 1 1/2 hours to get to and 3 busses. . Thank god for the invention of auto boxes:bannana:

Thanks for your advise, seems to be a lot of knowlagable charcters compared to most forums

 

[DSM10000]

ok will get that done tonight. there is no local specialtist of any type around my area, i live in the middle of no where ! hence the purchase in the first place, hospital appointments after a skiing accident take 1 1/2 hours to get to and 3 busses. . Thank god for the invention of auto boxes:bannana:

Thanks for your advise, seems to be a lot of knowlagable charcters compared to most forums

Forgot to add, make sure you have driven the car at least 10 miles and check the level as my post with the engine running!

The fluid should be reddish / pink and not smell burnt, if it is very dark then it needs changing, good luck!

 

[k3vb]

I found this if it's any help http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engi...box-memory-without-disconnecting-battery.html

 

[mauno]

does mb history says anything about gearbox fluid change?needs to be done around every 35-37000 miles. so it might be time. and yes you warm up the engine to operating temp and then measure fluid.also stardiag would be useful to check oil grade and other infos

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
Direct from cold the box will hold on to the lower gears to warm the cats through. Whether this fully explains your symptoms I can,t say but a gearbox oil change will almost certainly not have been done, as MB said the gearboxes were sealed for life till about 2007, but if carried out will certainly improve the gear shift and life of the gearbox