andrewt1993

Hi everyone,

I've had my 2014 GLK350 for three weeks now and just noticed yesterday and today that the car jerks noticeably roughly from D3 to D4 when in automatic eco mode. It happens randomly both at low and high rpms.

Is this something I should be concerned with? Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving I won't be able to contact the dealer service department so in the meantime can anyone help me out with advice?

greasykid

Have 2013 GLK350 w/almost 9k miles. Smooth all the time . Go back to the dealer!. Probably needs reprogramming.

fabbrisd1

Please understand on the transmission/shifting setting "E or S" - that E does stand for economy, as designed by Mercedes when you are up on the highway for 20 minutes or more.

"S" mode is "standard" designed for everyday neighborhood driving, where the transmission will be called upon for more shifting.

I would 1st suggest - if you are in E around town and encounter this "dealy" - I would suggest next drive to try/explore "S" mode.

ECO mode - separate - has to do with auto-shut-off/auto-start at long stops to further conserve gas.

Keep the beat !

mstrbenztech

I will check at work tomorrow, there may be a tsb out for a 3-4 shift problem but not sure if it applies to your model. "E" mode starts out in 2nd gear for gas mileage purposes and to prevent wheel slippage. In your model you will not feel much of a difference between the modes but in the new trans in the CLA its a huge difference. And yes, ECO has nothing to do with shifting

fabbrisd1

So others are aware - putting CLA front wheel drive aside for the moment - CLA is entirely different tranny from GLK/all-other 2014 MB's - right 10tech ?

City/standard driving in E tranny mode, when driver's characteristics are more "agressive" can cause the exact symptom OP is reporting.

mstrbenztech

Yes, the CLA trans is completely different from all others. I have to disagree on that fab. Even in "E" mode, there still should be no jerking felt. Even if the driver is more aggressive, the trans will "learn" the driving style and adapt to that. The trans is constantly learning to adapt and provide the smoothest shifts possible. AndrewT1993, the dealer will go in with the SDS and check the adaptations of all gears. If any readings on the 3-4 upshift are close to spec, then the first step they should do is check trans fluid level and perform an adaptation of that gear.

mike-nc

I have to agree. I leave mine in E mode and have very smooth shifts. You may have an issue.

kozak79

I have jerky shifts sometimes in E mode. I took it to the dealer, they couldn't verify off-course. They said it's normal. When E mode is off or S mode is on, smooth shifting.

fabbrisd1

"Adaptation" is a commonly misunderstood myth - since it is actually a degradation of the original factory defaults over time in E mode with the original-original intent to accentuate fuel economy for slow-poke-drivers...

Again - driving in the "city" - standard driving with stop and go - for other than slow pokes - and in many metro areas slow-pokes will be overrun by comparitive traffic is nonsensical as compared to the true intent of "S".... think of "S" as zipping around city-Euro traffic and "E" as driving into town from the village.. the "E" default is still a Old-War bugaboo leftover from the MPG-war days... frack it..

mstrbenztech

Yes, there are the factory defaults but since everyone has different driving styles this is when the constantly adapting trans comes into play. We take the sds on the road and there is certain rpm/engine load ranges that we shift from gear to gear. What this is doing is changing fill times and fill pressures (in mbar) to provide the smoothest possible shift. Im just giving you an idea of how this is done in the shop

lorimarina

Yes, My 2014 GLK 350 does the 3 - 4 jerk too!!! AND, today, it would NOT GO when I put it in drive.. I wait patiently for the service dept. to call me. I don't have the greatest service at my dealer...

MBKLUE

same problem for me (2014 GLK also -4Matic).

wowzer1

I fear I am having this issue as well in my 2014 GLK 350, although it seems to happen more from D4 to D5 in E mode. Any update on your problem?

Gt. Dane

E is "Economy" mode. S is "Sport mode". Your transmission learns your driving style and adjusts shift points accordingly. Other than a malfunction two things could possibly also be happening - you haven't given the transmission time to learn your driving style. The second thing - explained to me when i took possession of my car - keys are individualized, meaning if you have one key and your wife has another the transmission will adjust to the driving style of the key holder. This also applies for the attention assist - it recognizes when you change drivers. Maybe you are interchanging keys?

fabbrisd1

Well Dane... what you were told "different key different drive style" is not accurate... and no, adaptive transmission is a economizing feature, a degradation to slower shfits actually..

MBKLUE

It may learn your driving style but it should never shift so "brutally" that it's hard on the transmission and not worthy of being in a Mercedes. Mine has had about 8 months to learn my driving style, I'm the only driver and always use the same key. When it's shifting well it's pretty nice but some of the time it's not. My 1994 Saab 900 with an Asian-Warner auto trans. always shifted well. Granted it was a 4-speed, if that's important... and no "learning" nonsense built-in.

cindyclk

a suggestion.....

adaptive throttle reset...
You can reset it by:

1) turn the electronics all the way on, but not the engine
2) press the accelerator to the floor and hold
3) after 5 seconds, turn the key off, but DON'T remove the key THEN take your foot off the pedal
4) wait a couple (two) minutes and it should reset

I hope this helps you.

TaterTot24

I just joined this forum because I am having the same issue with the 4th to 5th shift.

I only have about 400 miles on my car, so I do not know about the whole "learning" thing. I am a used car dealer and buy/evaluate cars for a living, so I know there is definitely something wrong here...

Also, every once in a while the car will have a hard down shift... not sure which gear change is causing it (it may be 5th to 4th).

So what is going on here?

shotgun_banjo

When I got my GLK on 2011 I have the same problem with rough shifting on 4th to 5th actually rough downshifting from 5th to 4th as the car will jolt forward a little. They have to reprogram the transmission and was told to drive it for at least 500 km or so so that it will adjust and learn. After 500 km the shifting is buttery smooth up to now.

harryd840

Guys I have pretty much the same issue on 2014 C300 4Matic...primarily with downshift climbing the hill...here is the link to my post.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/526549-2014-c300-4matic-transmission-jolt-jerking-problem-2.html#post5981318

It still isn't fixed Will try the adaptive throttle reset today...

PeterUbers

I have the same issue on two 2014 e550s

I actually had mbusa buyback my first 2014 e550 because of the problem and the brand new one they replaced it with does the same thing

Something is definitely up for 2014 Benz transmissions

PeterUbers

what's unique about the 3-4 or 4-5 shifts that everyone, including C300 and E350/550 owners seem to have clunks in these shifts ..?? Is there a significant mechanical motion in the transmission in this area of shifting?

bop11

here you go

PeterUbers

My 2014 e550, the second one, is day 11 on the rack with transmission out and waiting for parts. Have been pushing Mbusa corporate to give me my cash back. Two e550s back to back with identical 4/5 clunk is signs of a systemic problem, not two isolated incidents. Will hear back today or I take my war to social media

goneawayj

Have a 2014, 5000 miles. Been into the dealer once for jerky shifting, seems only D2 to D3. Once it wouldn't shift into D or R when started. 3 weeks ago went in, dealer apologized it was apparently delivered low on fluid. They put about a quart in they said, and it should be good to go.


Now back to doing it, 3 times this past week. Going back in tomorrow. Found this thread, and wondering if fluid really was the issue. Seems this may be something else?

Anyone ever get any resolution for this issue?