Mercedes c270 cdi gearbox problems

[Rickers_mufc]

Hi all

I am fairly new to all this forum stuff and last week i purchased my first mercedes - 2002 52 c270 cdi elegance auto with 88k on the clock.

The 1st couple of days driving was fine, did 100 miles with no issues whatsoever. But then yesterday morning as i turned into a side street it seemed as if the car jumped out of gear by itself and into nuetral although it still displayed "D" on the dash. I had to come to a stop, put it in "park" and back into D to start getting any drive again.

It did it again a few miles down the road as i put my foot down it seemed to jumped out of gear,i managed to put the car in nuetral and back into drive to keep momentum.

Anybody got any ideas as to what this could be as i am slightly worried about expensive repair bills ans was hoping mercedes ownership would be more trouble-free than my usual audis!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The car does have one other issue but not sure its related, the glow plug light stays on for a couple of minutes when you first stArt driving but then dissapears?

 

[chrissoar1]

Hi, check your engine mounts, if there knackered when you put your foot down the engine and gearbox will move pulling on the gear selector and hence pulling the box out of gear. Hope this helps

 

[chrissoar1]

As far as the glow plug issue, it suggests one or more plug needs replacing.

I am not recommending you do the following but I had the same problem and found that two of mine were knackered by the following method as I hadnt a continuity meter.

They are easy enough to test, if you remove each one in turn and test across a battery but only connect to the power for a second or two as they heat up incredibly fast. Dont hold them at the end that enters the engine.

Fresh plugs are only £15 each approx so wont break the bank.

 

[Rickers_mufc]

Hi thanks for your replys

i had all the plugs changed and the light has now gone so thats one problem sorted.

with regaurds to the gearbox problem whereby it will sometimes kick itself into neutral or stick in one gear on kickdown, i had it plugged into diagnostics and it came up as a 'SPEED SENSOR' fault.

it was recommneded by a local specialist in manchester that i change the ATF and filters as a first point of reference to see if this fixes the issue. the gearbox certainly felt smoother and alot better but the problem still persists when you put your foot down. so i guess i will have to fork out the £250 odd for the new speed sensor and this hopefully will fix the issue! if it doesnt then i dont have a clue what to do next!!!?!?!

i have been told that there are hundreds of mercs with the same issue as when the electronic/tiptronic gearbox was released MB announced that it was for 'life' and never needed a service when in actual fact it needs doing every 40000 odd miles. subsequently there are hundreds of mercs floating around the used car market with 'dodgy' boxes. can anyone shed anymore light on this? has anybody else had a similar experience?? any responses much appreciated!

thanks
rick

 

[philepo]

My c200 did the same. May not be the same issue but... take it the MB dealer, they charge about 20 quid to check auto fluid (or free sometimes). The g/box is very very sensitive to level. For the cheapest of prices you may as let the MB techs chaeck it.
Rgds

 

[SAFC]

I've got a C270 CDI too. No probs but after 67,000 miles a multi-connector fault was causing ATF leakage. A simple and cheap change of the multi-connector did the trick but, as my local garage had to lose oil from the box when doing the job, they noticed it was very black. This on a car which had had the ATF changed at 40,000 miles. So it does need doing and regularly.
My independant local garage had the special spring-type dipstick to check ATF levels and changed the gearbox oil for me. When they did this they said the level HAD to be right. If you're confident the ATF has been done right, then yes, look elsewhere but I'd be surprised if you're looking at a serious gearbox problem.
I'm very happy with my W203 but it stills need attention. For instance, it looks like I need a new condensor for the AirCon - not cheap but it'll have to be done.
All in all, though, great motors and lovely to drive.
Happy motoring !!

 

[x332race]

I've just had exactly the same problem on my CLK....error was "speed sensor".

Took it to a local merc indy and he had a good look at it and came to the conclusion that there was, most likely, a problem with the electrical plate holding the speed sensors. He did say that there was the option of cleaning the sensors and plate, changing the oil/filters etc and see what happens but there would not be any guarantee that the problem would not reoccur. He thought that there could be a problem with the circuitry on the board that was not immediately apparent as the senors themselves appeared ok.

It made sense to me to replace the electrical plate (part cost £178) as he had to take out the plate anyway to inspect it (plus it is hassle not being able to drive the car). Replaced the oil and filter and now it is as good as new (hopefully) All in cost about £500.

 

[jemis]

Hi I'm in exactly the same boat with my c270 the same year as yours, only had it a few days when had the same symptons, have read loads of threads detailing the same problems but various reasons for it, would like to hear what your problem was when you get to the bottom of it. hoping to get mine in somewhere this week to get it looked at but not sure wether to try a indy garage or a transmission specialist.

 

[takeapeak]

Hi all

I am fairly new to all this forum stuff and last week i purchased my first mercedes - 2002 52 c270 cdi elegance auto with 88k on the clock.

The 1st couple of days driving was fine, did 100 miles with no issues whatsoever. But then yesterday morning as i turned into a side street it seemed as if the car jumped out of gear by itself and into nuetral although it still displayed "D" on the dash. I had to come to a stop, put it in "park" and back into D to start getting any drive again.

It did it again a few miles down the road as i put my foot down it seemed to jumped out of gear,i managed to put the car in nuetral and back into drive to keep momentum.

Anybody got any ideas as to what this could be as i am slightly worried about expensive repair bills ans was hoping mercedes ownership would be more trouble-free than my usual audis!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The car does have one other issue but not sure its related, the glow plug light stays on for a couple of minutes when you first stArt driving but then dissapears?

Mate you can listen to all sorts of jazz, from you have changed the A.T.F and filters it leaves conductor plates or speed sensor, it is quite possible that the E.C.U will point you in the right direction however dont take it as verbatum as they have limited canbus to id the fault, however it should narrow it down but a good M.B tech will evaluate all the info and work out the proplem as it is a commom bone of contentention [they need servicing] irrespective of whom says what, but it will not be a big fix as is said there are lots of C270 on car lots with G/Box problems but nothing really major, if it was belive me you would know,

 

[Andy The Bubble]

Sounds like I have the same problem, on a CLK 270 CDI, but I am struggling to read my DTCs.

Anyone in the Midlands, UK?

 

[SAFC]

As an amateur in this field, but one who has read a few things, it seems to me that the Transmission Oil is a good place to start. Get an Independant garage (who have the correct dipping stick) to drain the oil and put some new stuff in. Once that's done, then you can start to worry about other things if there's no improvement.
OOps, sorry, I see now you've had the Oil and Filter changed.
So, what was the resolution in the end?

 

[x332race]

Get a garage to read the codes. No point in throwing money at getting transmission oil changed if you do not know what the problem is. Gearbox specialist should be able to assist if no merc specialist near you.

 

[SAFC]

x332race makes a good point. I'm just advising that, if you're stuck on what the cause is, the most common cause seems (seems to me) to be the need for new fluid.
Good Luck.

 

[scottydee]

I'm having the same problem, but in addition to that, when I floor the accelerator, it goes through the gears to 3rd (I think) then sticks in that gear, and even if I back off, it doesn't change down. It's like it's stuck - it wont even let me switch to sports mode - I have to pull in and switch off to rectify.

It's my first merc, and I hope that this isn't going to be a big let down.

 

[x332race]

It is poosible to check the level of oil in the4 gearbox but you need a special dipstick (I got one off ebay for a few ££). May be worth checking level of fluid first.

On my car, fluid level was ok so I took car to an independent who checked the codes and told me what was wrong (sensor plate). £500 to fix and now all ok.

 

[scottydee]

Thanks for that. The car is being collected tonight, and hopefully will be sorted soon. I spoke to a local merc specialist who actually said he wouldn't have one, as they aren't as reliable as they used to be!! We'll see! (fingers, toes and everything else crossed.)

 

[x332race]

My wife andI have had a mixture of mercs, bmw's and VWs (and one Fiat Barcetta) over the last 20 years and I can say that they have all been much of a muchness as far as reliability is concerned. All have been bought secondhand and run to about 90,000miles. Had minor issues with each car, but nothing drastic (apart from a 328i BMW Coupe where the engine had to be replaced by BMW under warranty as the design of the engine did not allow for the type of petrol we get here in the UK!)

 

[paulde]

hi can anyone tell me how much oil my ml 270 auto box should take as just put new filter and elec socket o rings to sort out oil leak thanks

 

[scottydee]

Had the car back for a couple of weeks now, and then tonight it stuck in gear again. (Despite supposedly having a new control valve fitted to the gearbox)

The dealer said he'd give me my cash back, so I may have to test him on this.

 

[SAFC]

Hmmm, disappointing for you.