**CAN U HELP ?** A170 semi-auto gearbox probs :(

[the-benz-guy]

Hi everybody,
i have just purchased my V reg A170 cdi avantgarde with a semi-auto gearbox. Seemed like a nice little car until 2 hrs after buying i suddenly got an 'F' appear on the dashboard and the car got stuck in gear whilst driving.
I pulled it out, but it wouldnt go back in gear so left it at the lights for 10 mins then it started and drove fine for 20 miles then did it again Kept trying for 20 mins then it went into gear when the 'F' dissapeared and drove for another 25 miles then surprise surprise it did it again and took over an hour to get going again. It starts with foot on the brake but will not go into gear until the 'F' dissapears.
I have also noticed when the ignition is on and the 'F' is showing i get a quick picture of a clock and an oil can show , not sure if this relates to it ?
Does anyone have any ideas as very disspointed at the mo

Also when on the motorway hit a few bumps the back of the car tried to spin round (nice at 75mph ...not). When i got home i have noticed there are brand new mercedes rear springs fitted so can only assume it might be the shocks ?

If anyone can point me in the right direction i would be grateful as dont have the deepest pockets this time of year,
Thanks

 

[MichaelE211]

As if by shear coincidence

My wifes A170 clutch-less manual exhibited the same faults today for the first time in 87000 trouble free miles

Naturally I had to go and collect her car from where she had left it, managed to get it into second and drove home.

Upon a short inspection, ie it was dark and bloody cold, I found a small interconnecting rod (plastic about 40mm long with a ball socket at each end, located in the shift linkage on top of the gear box casing, viewed from looking under the bonnet) had popped off at one end due to wear.

I temporary popped this back on and tested the car again just up the drive and it worked perfectly

Now this was only a quick check and I don't suppose it will rest here, more thorougher examination at the weekend is due.

 

[the-benz-guy]

hi, thanks i will have a check although my fault comes and goes but wont go into any gear when the 'F' shows.
I noticed today that the clutch fluid has been overfillled and the fluid looks very dirty ? Im wondering if it could be that causing the fault - i asked a garage about changing the fluuid and one said it has to go on a computer to change the fluid and another garage said it doesnt so im not sure ?
Im gonna try and get it on a computer incase any faults are stored in it. What a nightmare and ive only owned the car 48 hrs

 

[MichaelE211]

Just another bit of info, not good either, on a separate issue, I was concerned that the clutch needed replacing, and asked a local independent gearbox specialist.

He stated that the clutch itself was simple enough to change, but then the clutch mechanism has the be set up by a MB main dealer as they are the only ones with the settings and special equipment.

hi, thanks i will have a check although my fault comes and goes but wont go into any gear when the 'F' shows.
I noticed today that the clutch fluid has been overfillled and the fluid looks very dirty ? Im wondering if it could be that causing the fault - i asked a garage about changing the fluuid and one said it has to go on a computer to change the fluid and another garage said it doesnt so I'm not sure ?
Im gonna try and get it on a computer incase any faults are stored in it. What a nightmare and ive only owned the car 48 hrs

 

[MichaelE211]

Semi-auto Problem

All Seams Well (for the time being)

Well, spent the last half-an-hour under the bonnet tonight, I can not for the life of me find any other symptom than the small inter-connecting rod between the two shift linkages that had popped off.

Now taken the car for a test drive (about 8 miles) and box works fine, will try and buy a new link this weekend and lubricate the entire linkage as the shift did seam a little stiff.

According the handbook, the oil-can and clock are not connected the gearbox faults, mine showed the same symbol whilst driving home stuck in second gear as engine went into limp-home mode, next day checked and added some oil and all OK.

I feel its a good testimony with all the semi-auto boxed cars on the road, it would seam we are the only two who have experienced problems, hopefully thats a good sign.

Our car also has had new rear springs fitted, but not shocks, apparently the spring ends break off and then rub into their carriers, don't know why it should spin around through.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[the-benz-guy]

Thanks for your help, went to drive the car down the garage to try and see if it has stored any fault codes and now the 'F' is constantly on so wont go into gear and drive at all, just what i needed
Just have to hope for a miracle now, lol. I am gonna try to buy some sort of workshop manual so i can check the gearbox oil etc before i get charged a fortune from a garage.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

If anyone can point me in the right direction i would be grateful as dont have the deepest pockets this time of year,
Thanks

I would point you right back at whoever sold it to you. There must be a strong suspicion that this fault was present when you purchased the car, and indeed, if it was a private sale it may have been the reason why it was being sold.

 

[the-benz-guy]

i swapped an american van i had for it and surprisingly i cant get hold of the guy now although he drove it 70 miles to me and then on a long test drive without fault so very strange. maybe i was just unlucky ?

 

[MichaelE211]

A170 CDI Semi-auto box

Have been using the car everyday since popping the inter-connecting rod back on, it was the only fault I found, so have now purchsed new for the total cost of £3.86p from Tony Purslow in Basingstoke, I'm told they keep them in stock.

 

[robert.saunders]

So many themes, just the 1 thread..... and people think I am confusing

 

[Dieselman]

So many themes, just the 1 thread..... and people think I am confusing

You are with that damn rabbit....

I don't know you anymore..

 

[the-benz-guy]

asked a few people and they reckon chenage the overfilled and black coloured clutch fluid and see if it makes it better. only worry is that some guy said you cant drain it unless its on a computer because of the release bearing ??? i need to get a workshop manual for it i think

 

[grober]

The old A Class semi-automatic gearbox is a known source of problems. Transmission problems are expensive on this model due to the fact that they are normally an engine out job due to the neat fit of the mechanical assemblies.
A quote from the What Car reliability survey. http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=229285&EL=3223737
quote
"The old A-Class was the dearest Mercedes to repair, at an average of £552. Labour rates were high and cars took longer than most to fix."

And Honest John doesn't mince his words. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=230&
quote
"MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU DO NOT BUY A MK 1 A CLASS"

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings. On a more optimistic note this is a very helpful site. http://www.aclassinfo.co.uk/mypage.1.htm :bannana: