Hello and help!!!!!!! Gearbox seems to be stuck in 4th gear

[ladyluds1]

Hi! I'm new at this kind of thing but have been advised by a friend to give it a whirl!!!!!

I have a 52 c270 cdi elegance. The car only has about 95000 miles on it but we are having problems with gear box. It seems to be stuck in 4th gear and will not change up, the tip tonic is also no longer a working function.

A friend who dabbles has been out and had a look and says we have an air flow problem and the gear box is unfixable.

He has suggested it will cost about 2K to replace ......as the car is not worth much more I'm a little reluctant to spend that sort of money..

Our friend has suggested scrapping or breaking up the car for parts but to be honest, the car is in exceptional condition on the outside and it seems so sad to do this, not to mention I wouldn't have the first clue as to how to go about this!!!!!

I have read threads on here and I'm now wondering whether the problem may not be quite as serious as a replacement gear box or scrapping..

Any ideas please or any suggestions as to a good garage that could diagnose the problem for me and not rip me off as I'm a female with blond hair!!!!!!!

Thanks

 

[Dieselman]

Get the gearbox codes read before doing anything more.

If the gearbox actually makes the car move and doesn't sound like it's falling apart then it is probably mechanically OK. The fault is likely to be their a sensor, the electronic plate or the gear selector unit.

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
If you give us some idea of your location, somebody could recommend a good independent local to you that will not rip you off.

 

[ladyluds1]

Hi,
If you give us some idea of your location, somebody could recommend a good independent local to you that will not rip you off.

Hi I'm in Sheffield.

The car will move but we can't really go over 37 mph without revving the a** off the car and I don't want to do any more possible damage to it.

 

[lordlee]

Have you had it fully serviced? Also have you had any recent work done or spilt any liquids in the car?

 

[LTD]

Hi I'm in Sheffield.

The car will move but we can't really go over 37 mph without revving the a** off the car and I don't want to do any more possible damage to it.

That's not stuck in 4th then ...

 

[Dieselman]

It's stuck in 2nd, which is the default limp home selection.

 

[ladyluds1]

It's stuck in 2nd, which is the default limp home selection.

Ok. What exactly does that mean?

 

[Dieselman]

If the gearbox ECU can't properly decipher which gear the box should be in, or can't select it, it will stick the box into 2nd to get you home.

Back to post #2...

 

[ladyluds1]

That's not stuck in 4th then ...

I'm no expert which is why I'm asking for help.....
Maybe I should have been more specific.....
It will change up to what feels like 4th gear but will not go any further and we are unable to use the tiptronic function so can not select the gears manually either

 

[ladyluds1]

Have you had it fully serviced? Also have you had any recent work done or spilt any liquids in the car?

It has been serviced but not by MB garage.
No recent spills and new brakes, glow plugs and latch something to stop a knocking noise

 

[ladyluds1]

If the gearbox ECU can't properly decipher which gear the box should be in, or can't select it, it will stick the box into 2nd to get you home.

Back to post #2...

Thank you.

Will I need to go to an MB garage to get the codes read or any auto electrical specialist?

 

[Dieselman]

latch something to stop a knocking noise

That sounds like the handbrake cable clip to stop it rubbing on the prop-shaft.

Obviously, this is in the area of the gearbox electrical connector. Not likely to be connected, but you never know.

You need to get it to a garage that can read Mercedes gearbox codes so either a main dealer (£££) or a Mercedes indie (£).

From your later description I suspect the gear selector unit has packed in.