97 s 500 transmission problem please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lowaired · 11-01-2005, 12:33 PM

I left work yesterday and when i started my car the check eng light came on, car started fine shifted to reverse fine then to drive fine , while all other gauges looked fine!
Then as i was driving the car seemed to be stuck in 2nd or 3rd gear and wont upshift, cars got 108,000 now, anyone have this problem ? My mechanic yesteday said he scanned it and it said elctric relay transmission error, im hoping its just a solenoid or something. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appriciative!
Thanks,

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StapleGun · 11-01-2005, 02:40 PM

First thing I wish to know, as I'm sure many with the C43 here wanna know. Have you changed the ATF/filter in that transmission recently?

lowaired · 11-01-2005, 02:42 PM

not sure major service was done @ 100k supposedly it was !

leloz · 11-01-2005, 04:08 PM

A good mechanic should be able to tell if it is a solenoid or actual transmission problem, I hope it is not the latter. Keep us posted.

lowaired · 11-01-2005, 04:24 PM

my mechanic talked to his mercedes transmission tech in germany and said its electronic but needs to take it apart to see what it is, computer maybe? still not sure!

lowaired · 11-01-2005, 08:21 PM

any other thought or suggestions??????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????

f4iman78 · 11-01-2005, 08:33 PM

There are many things that could be wrong. It is most likely stuck in "limp home mode" causing it not to shift out of 2nd gear. I am not sure what your technician is talking about--electric relay transmission error. If you had the diagnostic code, that could help with suggestions of your problem.Good luck and keep us posted.

lowaired · 11-02-2005, 11:58 AM

Still no help someone please give me some clues as to what the possible problems are?

lowaired · 11-02-2005, 12:29 PM

?

sraxis · 11-02-2005, 01:29 PM

I had similar problems with my 92 500sel at 158k miles, and looking through the records it looks like it might have had tranny trouble at 85k also (prior to my ownership). It started slipping badly in 3rd, and then having trouble staying in fourth. The final evaluation was that it needed a complete rebuild.

If you live near Phoenix, there is a small shop (German Transmission) that does complete rebuilds for under $1500 (which is half or less of what most shops charge). I had mine done by them about 10k miles ago, and so far it is working great.

Unfortunatlely, I don't think you are going to find an "easy" fix for this...

-David
92 500sel
94 SL600

leloz · 11-02-2005, 02:11 PM

Automatic Transmission problems are one of the hardest mechanical problems to diagnose in person and even harder with just a description on the internet. To my knowlege there is not a set of common transmission problems with the w140, but without a good mechanice to diagnose, you are probably looking at a rebuild or replacement.

lowaired · 11-02-2005, 02:12 PM

the car is not slipping into third it is starting in second and staying there not up or down shifting , ( i guess it's called safe mode or limp mode) the trans has never shifted hard or slipped anywhere!!

lowaired · 11-02-2005, 03:00 PM

the car is not slipping into third it is starting in second and staying there not up or down shifting , ( i guess it's called safe mode or limp mode) the trans has never shifted hard or slipped anywhere!!

brett san diego · 11-02-2005, 03:23 PM

Have you tried searching or posting on www.mercedesshop.com? It's a little more technical-oriented over there.

Brett

lowaired · 11-02-2005, 04:17 PM

thanks , still no luck???????????

lowaired · 11-02-2005, 08:05 PM

thanks , still no luck???????????

f4iman78 · 11-02-2005, 10:56 PM

Get the codes from your mechanic and then we can help somemore. There are many things that can go wrong with these trannies causing them to go in limp home. We really need diagnostic codes to help you any further.

lowaired · 11-03-2005, 01:16 PM

the error code was a transmission solonoid error!
thats what my mechanic told me!

lowaired · 11-04-2005, 02:53 PM

some one has had to of had this happen please respond?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ksbnz · 11-04-2005, 09:53 PM

I had same trouble on my 95 s500 few days ago when I was driving back from work. The trany got stuck in 2nd gear when I got into ramp to other parkway I thought It got shot. I had to drove 20 more minuts like that to get home. The speed won't go up any higher than 30 miles and just rpm go high as 3000 which I never go up that high in normal driving. I just parked it like that when I got home. The trany worked normal when I go to work in the morning but I felt something wrong on the engine like the car coughing or briefly hegitating few times at low or high speed but gear shifted quite normal. My machanic said need to change fluid and filter. Also another machanic found MAF sencer dosen't read air properly. That also make the car feel like trany slipping. So I got factory rebuilt MAF at$189 from local supplyer that I changed my self and changed fluid ,filter all myself. Boila! car runs like a new again. I hope this will help you.

lowaired · 11-17-2005, 03:09 PM

figured it out , awsome mechanic in Huntington beach southern california, it was an rpm sensor in the transmission valve body and a spring in the transmission plate?plus some reprogramming of the trans computer!
Bottom line beat mercedes transmission mechanic i have ever talk to. saved me 5 thousand dollars which my local mechanic wanted.
The guys name is Mike Knott
Beach Benz Huntington beach , Ca

carl1878 · 04-21-2012, 02:58 PM

i have just been offered a 98 s500 with lpg conversion. the car is stuck in 2nd gear sounds like similiar problem as you had. how much did repair cost cheers carl

11-01-2005, 04:08 PM	#4
leloz Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Va. Beach, VA Posts: 403 Drives: 2008 S63 AMG	A good mechanic should be able to tell if it is a solenoid or actual transmission problem, I hope it is not the latter. Keep us posted. __________________ 2008 Mercedes S63 AMG Iridium Silver/Black

11-02-2005, 01:29 PM	#10
sraxis Newbie Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5	500 tranny problems... I had similar problems with my 92 500sel at 158k miles, and looking through the records it looks like it might have had tranny trouble at 85k also (prior to my ownership). It started slipping badly in 3rd, and then having trouble staying in fourth. The final evaluation was that it needed a complete rebuild. If you live near Phoenix, there is a small shop (German Transmission) that does complete rebuilds for under $1500 (which is half or less of what most shops charge). I had mine done by them about 10k miles ago, and so far it is working great. Unfortunatlely, I don't think you are going to find an "easy" fix for this... -David 92 500sel 94 SL600

11-02-2005, 02:11 PM	#11
leloz Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Va. Beach, VA Posts: 403 Drives: 2008 S63 AMG	Automatic Transmission problems are one of the hardest mechanical problems to diagnose in person and even harder with just a description on the internet. To my knowlege there is not a set of common transmission problems with the w140, but without a good mechanice to diagnose, you are probably looking at a rebuild or replacement. __________________ 2008 Mercedes S63 AMG Iridium Silver/Black

04-21-2012, 02:58 PM	#22
carl1878 Newbie Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1 Drives: e220 coupe,e55 amg,1963 230sl pagoda	s500 gearbox i have just been offered a 98 s500 with lpg conversion. the car is stuck in 2nd gear sounds like similiar problem as you had. how much did repair cost cheers carl

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11-01-2005, 02:40 PM	#2
StapleGun MBWorld Fanatic! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,348 Drives: 1967 Morris Cooper "S", 1983 911SC, 1997 Toyota Tacoma, 1999 HD FXSTB, 1998 C43	First thing I wish to know, as I'm sure many with the C43 here wanna know. Have you changed the ATF/filter in that transmission recently?

11-01-2005, 02:42 PM	#3
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	not sure major service was done @ 100k supposedly it was !

11-01-2005, 04:24 PM	#5
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	my mechanic talked to his mercedes transmission tech in germany and said its electronic but needs to take it apart to see what it is, computer maybe? still not sure!

11-01-2005, 08:21 PM	#6
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	any other thought or suggestions??????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????

11-01-2005, 08:33 PM	#7
f4iman78 Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 48	There are many things that could be wrong. It is most likely stuck in "limp home mode" causing it not to shift out of 2nd gear. I am not sure what your technician is talking about--electric relay transmission error. If you had the diagnostic code, that could help with suggestions of your problem.Good luck and keep us posted.

11-02-2005, 11:58 AM	#8
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	Still no help someone please give me some clues as to what the possible problems are?

11-02-2005, 12:29 PM	#9
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	?

11-02-2005, 02:12 PM	#12
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	the car is not slipping into third it is starting in second and staying there not up or down shifting , ( i guess it's called safe mode or limp mode) the trans has never shifted hard or slipped anywhere!!

11-02-2005, 03:00 PM	#13
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	the car is not slipping into third it is starting in second and staying there not up or down shifting , ( i guess it's called safe mode or limp mode) the trans has never shifted hard or slipped anywhere!!

11-02-2005, 03:23 PM	#14
brett san diego Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 105 Drives: 1997 S600 Sedan	Have you tried searching or posting on www.mercedesshop.com? It's a little more technical-oriented over there. Brett

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11-02-2005, 04:17 PM	#15
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	thanks , still no luck???????????

11-02-2005, 08:05 PM	#16
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	thanks , still no luck???????????

11-02-2005, 10:56 PM	#17
f4iman78 Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 48	Get the codes from your mechanic and then we can help somemore. There are many things that can go wrong with these trannies causing them to go in limp home. We really need diagnostic codes to help you any further.

11-03-2005, 01:16 PM	#18
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	the error code was a transmission solonoid error! thats what my mechanic told me!

11-04-2005, 02:53 PM	#19
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	some one has had to of had this happen please respond?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-04-2005, 09:53 PM	#20
ksbnz Newbie Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11	I had same trouble on my 95 s500 few days ago when I was driving back from work. The trany got stuck in 2nd gear when I got into ramp to other parkway I thought It got shot. I had to drove 20 more minuts like that to get home. The speed won't go up any higher than 30 miles and just rpm go high as 3000 which I never go up that high in normal driving. I just parked it like that when I got home. The trany worked normal when I go to work in the morning but I felt something wrong on the engine like the car coughing or briefly hegitating few times at low or high speed but gear shifted quite normal. My machanic said need to change fluid and filter. Also another machanic found MAF sencer dosen't read air properly. That also make the car feel like trany slipping. So I got factory rebuilt MAF at$189 from local supplyer that I changed my self and changed fluid ,filter all myself. Boila! car runs like a new again. I hope this will help you.

11-17-2005, 03:09 PM	#21
lowaired Almost a Member! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	figured it out , awsome mechanic in Huntington beach southern california, it was an rpm sensor in the transmission valve body and a spring in the transmission plate?plus some reprogramming of the trans computer! Bottom line beat mercedes transmission mechanic i have ever talk to. saved me 5 thousand dollars which my local mechanic wanted. The guys name is Mike Knott Beach Benz Huntington beach , Ca