ray54

My 2000 C230 kompressor is stuck in limp mode. I'm far from an actual dealer, so I went to an indy shop that specializes in MB. He said that I need to change the TCM, which he showed me as a little black box behind the cover on the front passenger side. He stated that this problem occurs often. However, having read a number of posts on this forum, it seems that most people have a problem with transmission fluid wicking into the transmission control module (which I still don't understand b/c how does fluid get all the way to this unit) and that makes the unit go bad. But when I checked my unit, there was no fluid in or around it.

Is there any way to check the unit myself, perhaps by checking the voltages at the pins?

Do I need a brand new unit, I saw that I could get the exact same part (with identical part number A 024 545 83 32) out of a C280 for $200.

I really don't trust the indy shop I went to. He charged me $260 to diagnose the problem ($170 for the computer check, plus $110 for some misc. labor), and since his solution is to replace a $1200 part plus labor, I would like any opinions I can get before moving forward.

Also my shifter is acting up. Whenever I shift into drive, I cannot shift back past nuetral into either reverse or park. I have to turn off the car to shift into park, or sometimes I can do it by tapping the brakes. Could this be why my car is in limp mode?

Thanking in advance for any advice,
ray

Glyn M Ruck

Hi & welcome. Limp mode can be induced by many things & if your TCU has no oil in it & you have no leaking O ring at the plug in the front of the transmission it's not that.

Before we waste everybody's time by guessing. Don't replace the TCU just yet. You have paid for this diagnosis. Please go and ask the guy for a list of the trouble codes he downloaded & post them here. Then we can take things forward. You paid for these codes - they belong to you. Don't take any crap.
Good luck

ray54

I looked on the forum and found a post with "Benz Specific Transmission Codes," but they do not match any of the codes the indy shop guy gave me. All the codes from the post are in the following format: P07xx, or P08xx. So maybe this mechanic is jerking me around, or maybe he was using a different tool than the person who posted the codes.

Anyway I'll describe the printout of the error codes I was given. The top left of the screen printouts says "Bosch" so maybe that's the tool he's using.

At the top of the 1st page it says: "Control module diagnosis MERCEDES BENZ EGS 1.0/3.0 (EGS 51) Error Memory" and there are 7 error codes:

34 CAN communication to engine CU or comm. to EWM CU. (via CAN) -signal improbable

116 Transmission oil temperature sensor or starting lock -Defectice or inoperative

130 CAN communication to engine CU or comm. to EWM CU. (via CAN) -signal improbable

132 CAN communication to engine CU or engine temp. (via CAN, engine CU) -signal improbable

134 CAN communication to ABS/ASR/ESP -Fault in CAN communication

135 CAN communication to engine control unit -Fault in CAN communication

136 CAN communication to combined instruments -Fault in CAN communication

The mechanic claims to have cleared all the codes except for 34 and 130, and this is why he thinks I need a brand new $1200 Transmission Control Module (or EGS).

On the 2nd page of errors the tops says "Control module diagnosis MERCEDES BENZ Motronic ME 2.1 Error memory" and the 1 error is:

103 Selector lever -error detected


Thank you again,

Ray

Glyn M Ruck

These are all CAN errors apart from 116 - This could well be a cooked TCU - but it could be another break in the CANBUS.

Please get hold of a standard OBDII/CAN scanner - borrow from Autozone or whatever & download the codes in Mercedes language from the plug under your steering column behind a little flap.

C230 Sport Coup

Silly question but is your 2000 C230 a W202 or W203?
You may be in the wrong forum....

samaritrey

i think he has a w202 because he mentions a part from a c280 which would not be a w203 of 2000 or 2001


Do I need a brand new unit, I saw that I could get the exact same part (with identical part number A 024 545 83 32) out of a C280 for $200.

Rmah

Hello I am new to this community. I have a 2000 C230 that I got from an auction yard. It was a salvage with flood damage but does not look it at all. Basically my car is experiencing the same problem as above. When I shift from Park to reverse or drive, there is big thud and jerk of the car. Also when I drive the gears do not change. I took to a mech and I got these codes from it.

034 - No Fault Text
116 - TOT Y3 - 6BL Starter Lockout Contact Y316
130 - CAN ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION FAULTY
135 - SPORADICALLY FAULT WITH MOTOR ELECTRONICS
148 - SPORADICALLY TCC IMPERMISSIBLE CLOSING

Glyn M Ruck

P0034 = Turbo Charger Bypass Valve Control Circuit Low
P0116 = Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Range/Performance
Problem
P0130 = O2 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
P0135 = O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
P0148 = Fuel Delivery Error

Rmah

Thank you for your reply. Can you please tell me what the possible solutions are. I was thinking about getting a new TCU but i do not know if that will solve the problem. I forgot to mention that there are no engine lights on when I drive. Is there a specific thing that I can do to get the tranny working well so at least I can drive the car?

Also can you tell me exactly where the CAN is located and is it possible that the problem is coming from that point and not the tranny?

Glyn M Ruck

The CANBUS is the network - wires & fibre optics whereby all the electronics on the car communicate with one another. It is not a component.

You need to check the TCU for oil and the Electrohydraulic bush. This should be the next step. Please also check that your fluid level is correct. The car is stuck in limp mode. If oil is semi shorting the pins in the bush it will create havoc with the CANBUS as it is sending wrong values to everything which would tie in with improbable readings the OP was getting. The Standard P codes that you are getting have nothing to do with the problem. An O2 sensor failing can't cause what you describe. If you are on another machine that is reading transmission codes & not P codes you might have a bad TCU but more likely a leaking electrohydraulic bush. Pray it is the bush - much cheaper & easy DIY. I carry a spare $8 bush in my car waiting for the day it gives trouble.

See this thread

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...sues-help.html

calitwin26

hello I have a 2005 c230 that will not go back in to reverse nor park I haven't spilled anything on the shifter just day I was going to go to the store backed it up just fine put it drive just fine then I try to put it back in to park and nothing it will not go back please help

Glyn M Ruck

Read codes if possible.

It can be many things including the shifter or shifter interlock with the brake pedal. Your car is right at the brake pedal switch deletion.

Is the car post facelift?

briabelle1998

Hi.. I have same problem too. When shift to drive I have turn car of to go back to park. My friend scanned and found code #240c. Any help please

cvx

Before you do anything else, have your car codes readed with Star, not with cheap scanners which can not resolve transmission problems properly.

Secondly see my thread about this, I had the same problem and it was not expensive to fix. Post your results and see if the code is the same as mine

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ode-p1856.html

Do not start buying stuff according to my thread part number since facelift model has theft coded switcher module, make sure about the error code first!