Car stopped changing gear whilst driving

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

jam38

Active Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Messages
279
Location
Birmingham
Car
VW Sharan 1.9 TDI, Audi 80 1.6 TD - wish I still had a Benz!
I was wondering if anyone has experienced this problem.

I was driving yesterday and at the roundabout the car next to me was driving a little erratic, so to save myself from any damage/accident, I put my foot down to get ‘away’. As I put my foot down I lost power and the engine was revving but no acceleration. I pulled over to the side, turned the car off and started and the problem went away.

This is the second time that this has happened and on the previous occasion, I put my foot down rather harshly and the same thing happened. I turned off/on car and problem was resolved.

Should I be concerned?

Why or what is causing this problem? Is it the fact that I accelerated harshly? Should I stop doing this?

Any help and advice is welcomed.
 
Low fluid level in your automatic? box?
 
Low fluid level in your automatic? box?

The gentleman I bought the car from had the gearbox oil changed a couple of months ago. How do I check it?
 
Anymore ideas before I take it to the garage?
 
Is it dropping ATF on your drive? Loads of threads on here about pilot bushes failing. An easy fix.

Don`t know much about sensor plates; only that they can be changed when the autobox sump is off.

There`s a thread on here a month or two ago with exactly your trouble.
 
Is it dropping ATF on your drive? Loads of threads on here about pilot bushes failing. An easy fix.

Don`t know much about sensor plates; only that they can be changed when the autobox sump is off.

There`s a thread on here a month or two ago with exactly your trouble.

Thank you for the reply. I have a few questions:

1) What is an 'ATF'?
2) I have tried to look for the thread, but have had no luck. Can you please provide a link?
3) Am I right in saying by the sounds of it, it is not going to be a big or expensive job?
 
You have gone into Limp Mode and the car has reset itself. Kickdown on a roundabout doesnt always give you a good result. sounds just liek low tranny oil, my 300CED did this a few times and topped the oil and job done.

:D
 
I doubt a gearbox fault.

What engine? Is it a diesel?
 
No ATF leaking on my drive.

As a side note, how did you know I have a drive... ;)

If it is the pilot bush (I thought was a euphamism for Stewardess!:D) then it is unlikely to leave tell tale signs where you park as it seeps out slowly and tends to track along the undertray. That was my experience of it.
 
`W211 "false neutral" when in drive`
andyb4.5 - 11/08/2011 - sorry, not that far back.
 
The gentleman I bought the car from had the gearbox oil changed a couple of months ago. How do I check it?

Your car will have a gearbox dipstick tube, but sadly these days, no distick. So you can`t easily check.

Take the car to an independent Merc specialist, ("indie" on here) and get them to check the ATF level. They will tell you if it`s low or indeed if it`s been changed at all.

Wrong level causes problems.
Wrong ATF causes problems. :(
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom