2000 S430 Transmission AIRMATIC Problems please HELP!!!!
#1
2000 S430 Transmission AIRMATIC Problems please HELP!!!!
I have a 2000 S430 and have been having some serious issues with it I need answers.....PLEASE HELP
So i bought the car about 2 months ago and one day was driving around town and the AIRMATIC Service indicator came on and the transmission stopped shifting. I stopped and turned the car off and started again immediately Problem was gone a couple days later I took it to a shop to have it looked at and they said there was nothing wrong with it and for like a month everything was fine. about 3 days ago i drove the car from Reno to Seattle and it did it again this time though it wouldnt stop doing by shutting the car off and back on. Now when you start the car you have to put it in gear and wait for the AIRMATIC warning to come on before you drive it or it wont shift. As long as you wait for the light to come on it shifts but lacks power. I hvae read alot of the posts about this same problem but haven seen any difinative solutions for it. Any ideas? the AIRMATIC doesnt leak and operates fine. any help would be greatly appreciated....
So i bought the car about 2 months ago and one day was driving around town and the AIRMATIC Service indicator came on and the transmission stopped shifting. I stopped and turned the car off and started again immediately Problem was gone a couple days later I took it to a shop to have it looked at and they said there was nothing wrong with it and for like a month everything was fine. about 3 days ago i drove the car from Reno to Seattle and it did it again this time though it wouldnt stop doing by shutting the car off and back on. Now when you start the car you have to put it in gear and wait for the AIRMATIC warning to come on before you drive it or it wont shift. As long as you wait for the light to come on it shifts but lacks power. I hvae read alot of the posts about this same problem but haven seen any difinative solutions for it. Any ideas? the AIRMATIC doesnt leak and operates fine. any help would be greatly appreciated....
#2
Transmission-Airmatic problem
I know that most people on this forum shy away from taking cars to a MB dealership for mechanical issues, but once in a while it's the only smart move. These transmissions are very tough mechanically, but can be easily damaged if they run even slightly low on fluid or shift improperly because of the electronic signals. I have no clue what the Airmatic has to do with the transmission, but I'd get it hooked up to the computer at a Benz dealer to figure it out before it's too late. It only costs about $150 to diagnose. It worked for me when my '01 S430 was popping out of gear...turned out to be a leaking signal boot and it was 2 quarts low on tranny fluid...best $188 I ever spent. Good luck.
#3
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2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
Welcome to the forum.
As a new owner, I'll point out the W220 S-Class Owners Start Here sticky at the top of the forum.
It won't solve your particular problem - Bob727's advice is best under the circumstances. You do seem to have two separate problems occurring, and your authorized dealer or a very good Mercedes-certified independent should diagnose them.
The sticky will give you a good starting point, however, for future problems.
As a new owner, I'll point out the W220 S-Class Owners Start Here sticky at the top of the forum.
It won't solve your particular problem - Bob727's advice is best under the circumstances. You do seem to have two separate problems occurring, and your authorized dealer or a very good Mercedes-certified independent should diagnose them.
The sticky will give you a good starting point, however, for future problems.
Last edited by Skylaw; 04-04-2010 at 10:30 AM.
#5
Please dont think that Im argueing with you but how come the transmission would not shift only when the airmatic light comes on? I saw another post on here about the same problem but remedys.....
#6
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2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
I have never known a dealership NOT to make a service appointment to diagnose and repair a problem with a Mercedes. As to diagnosing it over the phone, or giving free advice - those are things they may refuse.
#7
you may just have a weak battery (thus the comment about voltage drop) these cars exhibit all kinds of issues and warnings when the battery is low.
Either disconnect the battery from the car, charge it and reconnect (DO NOT CHARGE WHILE ATTACHED TO THE CAR), or get a new battery and see if that fixes it.
Either disconnect the battery from the car, charge it and reconnect (DO NOT CHARGE WHILE ATTACHED TO THE CAR), or get a new battery and see if that fixes it.
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#8
Senior Member
I have a 2000 S430 and have been having some serious issues with it I need answers.....PLEASE HELP
So i bought the car about 2 months ago and one day was driving around town and the AIRMATIC Service indicator came on and the transmission stopped shifting. I stopped and turned the car off and started again immediately Problem was gone a couple days later I took it to a shop to have it looked at and they said there was nothing wrong with it and for like a month everything was fine. about 3 days ago i drove the car from Reno to Seattle and it did it again this time though it wouldnt stop doing by shutting the car off and back on. Now when you start the car you have to put it in gear and wait for the AIRMATIC warning to come on before you drive it or it wont shift. As long as you wait for the light to come on it shifts but lacks power. I hvae read alot of the posts about this same problem but haven seen any difinative solutions for it. Any ideas? the AIRMATIC doesnt leak and operates fine. any help would be greatly appreciated....
So i bought the car about 2 months ago and one day was driving around town and the AIRMATIC Service indicator came on and the transmission stopped shifting. I stopped and turned the car off and started again immediately Problem was gone a couple days later I took it to a shop to have it looked at and they said there was nothing wrong with it and for like a month everything was fine. about 3 days ago i drove the car from Reno to Seattle and it did it again this time though it wouldnt stop doing by shutting the car off and back on. Now when you start the car you have to put it in gear and wait for the AIRMATIC warning to come on before you drive it or it wont shift. As long as you wait for the light to come on it shifts but lacks power. I hvae read alot of the posts about this same problem but haven seen any difinative solutions for it. Any ideas? the AIRMATIC doesnt leak and operates fine. any help would be greatly appreciated....
#10
Senior Member
I uploaded the pic but i'll try again.
#12
Senior Member
When the tcu thinks something is wrong with the tranny, it will flip it self into limp home mode and not shift or go above. A certain rpm. You can plug in a computer and look at fault codes.