thinkscott1015

Has anyone had this problem? When I start it up I let it warm up for maybe 5 mins, and then I'm off to work. BUT, for the first 10 minutes or so, I cant get the transmission to get out of like 2nd drive--maxing out around 35 mph and 4K RPM. Sometimes it just needs time, and sometimes it will work normally after I turn off the engine and restart.

Once it is acting "normally", it's good for the rest of the day without any probs.

Help?

Plutoe

Sounds like a faulty gear selector switch---in any event that is not a DIY without the test equipment which will confirm problem!!

IanB

Agreed with above. Try turning your headlights on so the gear selector is illuminated, and you can see if it's registering the gear you're in on the display. If the gear isn't lit up, the ecu for the tranny doesn't know either, and it locks you in the lowest gear. If you're getting 2nd, you're likely in "W" mode so it starts in that gear, if you were in "S" mode you'd be limited to 1st gear.


Try shifting manually to 3rd or 4th to see if the gear selection lights up, and if yes the tranny should act normally, but limited to the gear you've selected like normal. If this test works, you know you need to replace the gear selector switch.

ronworld

Lately my 2000 E320 held in first gear for 3 or 4 miles after a morning start, then shifted normally. But today it never shifted out of 1st...also was showing as being in 'R' reverse on the panel indicator. The tiptronic shifter does not make any difference....it just stays in 1st gear continually....what's going on? Ronworld

ronworld

It is a 4 matic E320 2000...Ron

kajtek1

More likely it was soft limp with 2nd gear that gives you over 40 mph?
Start with replacing pilot bushing, washing the plug and TCU.