Auto Gearbox Fault

[striker600]

My Automatic gearbox has a intermittent fault which has happened 3 times so far. This problem first occured on 23/11/09. After a couple of miles drive i parked the car, left engine running for a couple of mins then resumed driving. I then noticed the gearbox was locked in 3rd gear. I tried to shift gears left & right with the gearstick but it wouldnt shift gears, Kickdown & The W & S mode switch wouldnt work either. The only way to get the gearbox working correctly again was to turn engine off, remove ignition key,& restart engine.

This same fault happend yesterday 5/12/09, again when the engine had been ideling a couple of mins, after a 5 mile drive. I then set off & again the car was stuck in 3rd gear so i coasted the 1/2 mile home, stopped engine, restarted engine and the gearbox would work ok.

Today after covering 5 miles, whilst driving at 40mph coasting down a hill with foot off accelerator, i noticed a thumping through the drivetrain and after that the car was stuck in 3rd gear & i couldnt manualy shift gears. I stopped the car, removed ignition key, restarted engine & continuied the 3 mile journey home with gearbox working ok.

Car has covered 99,300 miles, has a fsh. I Changed the auto fluid and filter at 89,000 miles in nov 2007. I used the genuine MB auto transmission fluid.
Anyone Know what the problem is?
Should i get the codes read with star diagnostics at my local independant gararge?

 

[paul g]

coasting

striker could your problem be caused by you coasting for over 5 miles. as far as i know its bad for your gearbox. i'm a newbie could someone confirm this for me. as i was coasting also to save fuel, but dont want to cause damage.

 

[DRBC43AMG]

striker could your problem be caused by you coasting for over 5 miles. as far as i know its bad for your gearbox. i'm a newbie could someone confirm this for me. as i was coasting also to save fuel, but dont want to cause damage.

I certainly wouldn't do that, but I'm sure a specialist will chime in soon

 

[DITTRICH]

Coasting or replying to a thread 2 years old?

 

[Danny DeVito]

ha ha

 

[eryulant]

no reply to this thread in 2011?
No answer on this forum? volvo forums were brilliant... just replaced an aged volvo v40 with 120,000 mileage with same mileage 54 plate c180 petrol estate which i bought in a hurry (wanted to wait till summer for newer with bigger engine but thought what the hell get a merc now), looks like it has autobox electronic probs, sticks in 1st gear when very cold. Regretting hasty purchase but v40 lost all its coolant. this merc IS LOVELY compared to battered old v40 want to be convinced, early days but need more assurance viz owning a merc anyway and this forum. dad loved his old w124, bought this one in remembrance to him, dont get me wrong, move from volvo to merc is progress! first post. your opinions gratefully accepted!

 

[AMGeed]

Welcome to the forum

Your Dad had good taste. The W124 was/is a great car. Its what got me thinking about buying my first Merc.

Re answering posts. 9/10 everyone gets an answer. There is the odd occasion nobody can/does respond.

Find yourself an indy with Star (MB diagnostics) and have your gearbox fault codes read. You may just need the ATF topping up or flushed out and replaced. A Star test should show what the problem is.

Where are you located in case anyone knows of a recommended indy?

 

[John]

Not the Volvo vs Merc thing again...

 

[eryulant]

lol JohnEBoy and AMGeed. ty for response. I had volvo 240's a long time ago then a 5 cylinder passat, then 3 bmw e28's before that v40, with those 240's i thought they were the bee's knee's, but then dad himself converted from swedish tanks and got his two w124's Converted by the current 'limo', believe me! Want to keep it. (BTW, C stands for 'common' tho, yes? i'm a merc newbie!) i'm in near bedford, went to Millenium independent Merc garage there today, very helpfull but frightfull advice viz auto box.... he says sooner or later from the symptoms it'll go into limp mode....
On Volvo's viz the Mercedes thing, I fail to see why Volvo's are the same price!

 

[John]

I think C, E and S, with regard to class, are just like BMW's numbering and don't really stand for anything I believe.

In the case of VIN, it means 'vert or coupe. So mine is a W216 but also a C216. W is Wagon and applies to all models.

 

[Danny DeVito]

Hello, mine has no letter, because in place of my lovely merc is a hideous monster called He un die. Though I would be interested in pretending that I still had one.

 

[Drey27]

Any news from your merc? Did you get the car scanned?

I am also having problem with limp mode on c class coupe 2008. Replaced my battery recently because the old one was a goner. I believe it was the reason why my car kept going limp mode. I just need to get a mb star to clear code in order to reset the car.

Are transmission fault code able to be deleted by generic obd2 scanner?

 

[merc85]

Not the Volvo vs Merc thing again...

lol obsolutley no vs bit here, No comparrison lololol

 

[KeithJG]

lol obsolutley no vs bit here, No comparrison lololol

I think you are letting the Volvo side down Gav!

Remember your 850R and all the time to get it gleaming and also spending not quite so much money for 300bhp?

Correct , you can`t compare 300bhp with a 600bhp motor but also you can`t compare the money you have still spent on a very old car?....and still it isn`t right for you and it never will be.

As you know i came from 30yrs of Volvo`s to my first Merc which i still have....i have been lucky to buy the model which is quite reliable with good quality parts and no rust at all with power and economy which is what actual driving is all about, having said that still had £1500 spent on the box which still has a years guarantee to run but that is where it end`s.

I won`t be getting another Mercedes as i do like to get up in later years registration and what i see on here and elsewhere they are just positive money pit`s from low mileages also, even from 2007 the quality goes tit`s up as obsolescence kicks in all in MB`s favour and not the owners.

Look at the steering lock saga £700 repair by MB just because they used bad quality part a small 12v motor in the S204 models etc. and you can`t use your motor for three weeks waiting for parts, i think it is a terrible state of affairs for a marque which was once thought of almost as the ultimate to own.

I am afraid owning a Mercedes these days everyone just laughs at what goes on and i do believe i will eventually go back to Volvo or try VW.

At least i am not "i am a Mercedes owner" as some brag about so it makes no difference to me if it is Mercedes or another make.

There are a lot of owners not in your position for aftermarket parts being paid for owning these motors and so what you have spent so far no other would put up with and in this day and age you also are spending with the knowledge of not being able to enter a city unless you pay a high charge!....it effects petrol also before 2005!

I just hope this newbie who revived this thread studies what he is getting into....

 

[merc85]

Jeez keith all in jest mate lol

But getting back in the Merc after driving the Wifes Volvo for a while just brought home how good a drive the Merc's are, Also prior to Volvo's i had Year of Mercedes and it was great to get a chance of owning them again after all of "the rest"

Btw I've spent similar amounts on my Previous Volvo's

 

[KeithJG]

Jeez keith all in jest mate lol

But getting back in the Merc after driving the Wifes Volvo for a while just brought home how good a drive the Merc's are, Also prior to Volvo's i had Year of Mercedes and it was great to get a chance of owning them again after all of "the rest"

Btw I've spent similar amounts on my Previous Volvo's

OK, so you say all in jest!.....so you must agree with a lot i have mentioned as your reply was so short.

It is just i do think of other`s who once buy their Merc can`t afford to keep it running and it therefore "can" be a family wrecker

I am retired and buy what i want but i draw a line at lining others pockets when it is done deliberately.

There is no saving you now Gav

 

[merc85]

Not sure what you mean "not right for me" i own other vehicles i can use to suit any purpose i need.

Power and economy?

Super charged v8? i dont moan.

Pre 2005 tax Not worried at all, my car is pure pleasure as said above i have other options.

 

[merc85]

A person's perception of the MB brand is just that.... There perception "what ever that is"

I own a Mb because that what i like to drive and always have, Yes somethings the "Brand" does/and have done confuses me but Most manufacter's are the same.

 

[KeithJG]

Not sure what you mean "not right for me" i own other vehicles i can use to suit any purpose i need.

Power and economy?

Super charged v8? i dont moan.

Pre 2005 tax Not worried at all, my car is pure pleasure as said above i have other options.

Once again you misunderstand and also invent words that i have not said

My main concern as said is those newbies that do not know the pitfalls of a modern Mercedes.

While we are at it why do you continually put up pics of your dash, nobody else does!......getting those figures you were probably doing 20mph all day

 

[merc85]

Once again you misunderstand and also invent words that i have not said

My main concern as said is those newbies that do not know the pitfalls of a modern Mercedes.

While we are at it why do you continually put up pics of your dash, nobody else does!......getting those figures you were probably doing 20mph all day

Ave speed was 51mph And yes your correct you shouldnt expect to run a Mercedes on fiesta money.