R129 320SL Gearbox Problem

[Brendan 320]

Hi All, sorry my first post is a question looking for advice, I have a 1999 320SL R129 which I've owned for 12 years, it is gagged most of the year and only really comes out in summer. When I garage it last October it was fine but as today was so sunny out it came but unfortunately when I drove it up the road it doesn't change up gear. It was MOT and service just before being garages, drove perfect before being garages for the winter so what do you think it might be?

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

Hi,
Have you tried changing gear manually. How far did you drive it as mine will hang on in second for a while after it’s winter in it’s garage.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[RichardF]

I find all sorts of problems emerge with cars not regularly used. I think I'd try a proper warm up on the drive, heat soak to the gearbox may help, followed by reading the codes.

 

[Brendan 320]

Hi,
Have you tried changing gear manually. How far did you drive it as mine will hang on in second for a while after it’s winter in it’s garage.

Thanks for the reply, changed up and down several times but made no difference

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Brendan 320]

I find all sorts of problems emerge with cars not regularly used. I think I'd try a proper warm up on the drive, heat soak to the gearbox may help, followed by reading the codes.

Hi, thanks for replying, it started up first turn and I let it warm up whilst I took the roof off and stored it away, then off I went for a couple of mile cruise, you won't believe how difficult driving at max sipped 35mph is on a dual carriway when you can't go any faster. Tried changing going from 2nd to 3rd to 4th back to auto and it made no difference. I think I will have to take it to an auto gearbox specialist. I live in Milton Keynes, been recommend on in Aylesbury, that's going to a hard drive over unless I can get it trailers.

 

[BTB 500]

Does it shift into reverse? It may well be in limp mode, which can be caused by a number of things ... some quite minor like oil seeping into a multi-pin plug that connects to the gearbox (this usually requires replacement of the "electrical plate", which is quick and not that expensive). Could even be something as simple as low fluid, if there's a slow leak from a pipe or union somewhere. First step is to get it to someone with a STAR machine and get the fault codes read. I wouldn't recommend a gearbox specialist as the first port of call.