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[clarky]

Hi im new here and looking for some help, i brought a w203 mb c220cdi coupe 2002 yesterday only to get home and this warning lamp has come up it will not go into automatic, and wont go higher than gear 3! i left it for a hour and its gone back to normal, is this a big fault im seriously stressing as ive only just bbrought can somebody please help!!!!!!!!!

 

[jaymanek]

well never heard of that message before... normally transmission issues just cause engine light to come on..

There is no way of anyone telling you what is wrong until you get it plugged into a diagnostic computer, best a Mercedes Star system.
It could be something minor..

 

[clarky]

ok i will try mjh cars its a local mercedes specialist, if the seq box had gone surely it wouldnt be able to reset it self and go back to normal?

 

[jaymanek]

ahh that explains a lot... not may sequential boxes around..

Like i say it could be a glitch somewhere but need to get codes read. if that doesnt provide a conclusive answer, always a good idea to check the basics such as the oil level in the box.

 

[clarky]

are the seq boxes no good?

 

[jaymanek]

mercedes drivers tend to prefer autos in general... I never understood who would buy a seq box...

The BMW versions are terribly unreliable.. i havent heard that many horror stories with Mercedes ones but like i say, they arent exactly common.

 

[clarky]

just my luck! i just thought its a mercedes its got to be built right

 

[grober]

The sequentronic gear box is essentially a manual gearbox with an automated computer controlled hydraulically actuated clutch. They had a reputation for being very problematical. Problems with the hydraulics and the gearbox control ECU. Mercedes no longer use them AFAIK using a CVT type box on their smaller cars. I would take it back straight away to the garage you bought it from and try to get your money back. It's highly unlikely the seller didn't know about this fault. Any "repair" they propose is liable to just be a patch up/ computer reset job to get you out the door. I would take legal advice pronto to see if you can get a refund under the sale of goods act as the car wasn't of "merchantable quality" needing a major repair and you don't want to be landed with a car you may find very difficult to get rid of. If you bought privately you're in trouble because you have bought a bit of a lemon car wise which the trade won't touch at decent money. Sorry.

p.s.when operating properly the gearbox is OK but repairs can be costly so don't let the seller tell you otherwise- if they won't take it back- don't let them fob you off with a temporary repair- get the car assessed by a mercedes dealer /specialist who will give you an unbiased report on what's wrong and what's needed for a proper repair- then armed with this go back to the seller.

 

[clarky]

thanks for your reply this was a private sale so i think im stuffed!

 

[grober]

Sorry to hear that mate. Leaving aside the non desirability of sequentronic gearboxes for the moment its possible the fault may be not too expensive. I have heard of problems with gear select control/mechanism giving similar symptoms. This might not be so expensive as a hydraulics unit or a gearbox ECU. Time to get the fault codes read by someone who knows what they are doing- fingers crossed!

 

[clarky]

ill find out tomorrow its at howard williams, got it recovered to there earlier today, ive got everthing crossed lol

 

[clarky]

3 weeks later and ive finally got my car back, they have done the following

replace clutch travel sensor, thrust realease bearings, seal and bolts and refreshed transmission fluid and charged me a shocking £800 does this sound about right

 

[grober]

Seems a bit severe to me bearing in mind what was replaced? However I assume most of the cost would be labour-sounds as if it was a gearbox out job. If its good for another 50,000 miles I guess you will just have to live with it. However at that money if it goes wrong again within a short time interval/mileage then I would be taking it back pronto and asking them to rectify it FOC.

 

[clarky]

the labour cost was £350 for removal of the gearbox