Skr1

Please can anyone point me in the right direction concerning the sl 600 v12 2003 uk .
The Auto box and gear shift all work smoothly .
Problem the +- manual mode nothing .
There is no resistance when moving the gearshift to the + or - up or down.
Don't know if it should.

Is the gear lever/shift at fault or is it an electrical module/switch.
The fault has been with the car since I bought it no manual option.
There is nothing showing on the display.

Appreciate any clues.
Kind regards Steve

Ghostty

Does the +/- work though?
I used mine today and frankly didn't feel any resistance when doing so. I would say it should be smooth, as long as it comes back to center after pushing to either side.

You mean that it does not shift gears in the manual mode? Or just doesn't show the change on the display?

Skr1

Thanks for your reply Ghostly .
No gear change in manual mode. Nothing.
No display . Nothing
Yes moves back to centre after pushing to the side.

Ghostty

Hmm, haven't experienced any of that.

Were you able to connect the SDS and check for any codes? There is a plate that goes bad on MB in general, but that usually happens with oil leaks from tranny. The connector goes bad and you see small drips on the floor after the car was garaged. Any of that?

Since no codes nor any mechanical problems that goes directly to the transmission itself. Somehow it does not get in the manual mode the transmission itself. The car might send the command bot it doesn't take place.
As well this is just an idea of mine, don't take apart the tranny without SDS code readings first, which would be cheaper and easier to do.

Also you could check for oil level, there is a dipstick line for transmission oil level, but the car is not equipped with the dipstick itself. maybe you have a low oil level.

Regards, Ghostty

Skr1

Thanks again . Last week
Changed the electro plate and oil and the socket .
The diagnostic shows up as having no connection?

Skr1

I wondered if there is a module of some sort near the gear selector that is not operating or is the lever gear shift at fault.

Ghostty

Now we got some info to think about

My best shot would be still either a bad plate or a bad connection.
Did you pick the right plate? Not saying necessarily an OEM one, but the one fits for sure?

Sometimes the oil gets on the connectors themselves and the circuit is not closed. Has it been cleaned properly before reconnecting?

When i had to change mine on SLK320 due to leackage the guy did a awesome job and had no problems after. bought of ebay and paid $100 for plate. Of course this is not an SLK but still should be easy to find a good replacement. Did they give you any warranty on the job done? See if they can figure it out

Skr1

Yes I would agree ....
But the problem was there before the work was carried out .
And since the work was done there is no change.

Skr1

The auto box in auto mode is a dream Kick down works no noise and no vibration .no leaks.

Ghostty

well Isn't that why you had to change the plate?

If not, then idk, man Helped what i could

Skr1

Thank you for your help.
I am restoring the car. I have carried out a lot of work .(engine mounts ,struts,plugs,aircon unit breathers belt ball joints and more)
I have put up with the auto only until now trying to understand and put right.
I hoped the plate and plug and oil would help but still the same hence my thread.
You have given me somthing to think about and thanks for the input.
Kind regards.

dRockSL55

Forgive if I misunderstood your issue;
An 03/04 SL600 doesn't have a manual transmission mode, that was a feature for the sl55 and later sl65 as well.
You have two transmission modes, winter (later renamed 'comfort') and standard, abbreviated W and S on the instrument cluster display and on the program mode selector on the center console.
If your transmission mode switch says "manual" in addition to W or C and S, it was swapped from an AMG sl. This is why the instrument cluster won't show you anything for a manual mode and car won't behave as such.

On the 500 and 600 +/- buttons can only be used to change the top gear limit, knocking to the left (-) will limit or drop the car one gear, knocking it to the right (+) will raise the limit and allow upshift if in the previously held gear

This is mostly a software difference from the AMG cars. Their gearshift is functionally identical however they have an actual "manual" mode, the car will hold whatever gear you select unless you hit the rev limiter or the rpms and speed drop too low. This also incorporates torque converter lockup in all gears unlike the 500 and 600.
The program mode selector button is the same besides the labeling.

Skr1

dRock SL55 Thank you... explains why no manual .I used the manual term to explain shift so I understand the confusion

There is of course the +/- and that is my problem nothing happens. When moved to the left or to the right no matter what speed or gear the gearbox is in.
Hence should there be .
Your comment suggests there should. Interesting points you have made about the gearbox.
kind regards.

BlownV8

If you get a TCU tune, you can have the manual designation on your instrument cluster. I have it on my 600 along with paddle shifters.

Skr1

Please can you give me more details interesting.
Is your 600 a later model?
Did you add the paddles as an upgrade.

Mine is the SL 600 v12 r230 5 speed auto 2003 model UK.

At the moment I am replacing the seals on the boot and roof.
I have a couple of more jobs to do. Enjoying the car more since the engine mounts and the ABC were done .

BlownV8

It's a 2005. Yes the paddle shifters were added. The previous owner had all the work done.

BlownV8

If you have the buttons on the back of your steering wheel you can add the paddle shifters and get a ECU/TCU tune for the manual mode as well as an easy extra 100 hp on your biturbo 600. Do a forum search for sellers and DIY's on adding the paddle shifters.

Skr1

Thanks....I have no buttons on the back. I Assume I have the wiring harness nearby.

I am interested in converting. amazing if so.
I do Wonder though because it,s the 03 version whether or not the harness was fitted for the paddle/button.

Still trying to understand what has caused the + - shift not to operate.

latemodel21

There is no upgrade path for steering wheel shift buttons on non-amg 2003 r230s. Your car has neither the correct wiring, nor N80 module, nor programming to support them.

Your touchshift issue should be looked at with the Star tester (to see if either "up" or "down" functions). Possible explanations that come to mind for the dis-function you are experiencing are ...
1) down switch (optical coupler in this case I believe) does not work
2) up or down is shorted "on" causing the car to disable the touchshift feature
3) connector for "up-down" module is not fully plugged in (inside of shifter)
4) shifter has some dis-function in its signal processing


hope that helps,
Chris

Skr1

Chris Thank you .
Now I have something to work on.

Your comments make sense regarding the paddle shift upgrade as a non starter for me.

latemodel21

You are welcome. Let us know what you find, hopefully you don't have to replace the shifter.





Relative to my "NO path to paddles for this model" statement .... I oversimplified, there may be path ... but I am not aware of it being done ... yet


If you REALLY had your heart set on paddles, here is some info that might get you there.

a little background ...
Having been involved in paddle upgrades on various MBZ and Porsche models for more than a few years (I designed and manufacture the "paddle converter module" for upgrading shift buttons to paddles on 2003-2006 SL55/65, s55/65, cl55/65, clk55 and 2003-2004 E55s AND the paddle add-on kit for R170s and Chrysler crossfires AND I make interfaces for making paddles plug and play on some Porsche models as well), .. so, I know a little bit about the Mercedes shift button/paddle integrations ...


There are/were multiple scenarios for steering wheel shift buttons in R230s understanding them may get you to a solution...

On R230s starting in 2003 and thru 2006, AMGs used 2 switches (one "normally open", one "normally closed", wired in series) that were connected to the floor shifter (where the ANALOG signal was processed and then added to the CAN) This analog signal (and its ground) passed through the conductors of the clockspring and N80 (steering control module) using the conductors (electrical paths) that were used on non-amg R230s for the heated steering wheel power. Worth noting, 2003 SL55 had steering wheel shift buttons that ONLY worked in manual mode while 2004 and beyond had shift buttons that worked in all modes (2003 AMG could be made to work in all modes by installing a 2004 Transmission Control Unit A.K.A. , "TCU" although mercedes says you need to upgrade to a 2004 and later xmission valvebody when doing this).

Non-AMGs with steering wheel shift buttons (that I believe were available starting in 2005 with the AMG321 appearance pack) used a different ANALOG scenario through the clockspring (also using the "steering wheel heater" conductors, making these 2 options mutually exclusive). The shift buttons that were/are plug compatible with the newer AMG aluminum paddles plugged into the N135 module (in steering wheel, under airbag, this module combined the signals of the two "normally open" switches ) which in turn, plugged into the clockspring and then into a special N80 module A033-545-62-32. Once plugged into the special part number N80 module, it went through a jumper harness (2 wires) out of and then back into the N80 module WHERE It was then added to the CAN (instead of being added to the CAN in the floor shifter like the AMG integration).


So, assuming you DON'T have a heated wheel ... to add paddles to your 2003 non-AMG, you would need to add the N135 (part number escapes me at the moment), change the N80 (A033-545-62-32), add the harness jumpers for the N80 .... and then hope that there is coding available (428 option coding?) that will work for your car WITH the 5 speed TCU (most of the 2005 and later non-amg R230s had a 7 speed so there may or may not be different codings).


Steve at Mbenznl could probably tell you if this is possible (with SCN and Vedoc changes required, I would imagine).


OR, there is the DIY wireless integration (use AMG paddles and an EBAY $10 2channel xmitter/reciever ) ....


Cheers,
Chris


EDIT:
I just looked through some old notes I made some years back that relate to this and found that when I had compared the VIN of a 2004 SL600 (made before 428 steering wheel shift option was available) to that of a 2005 SL600 that came with the "428" steering wheel shift option .... I found that they had the same TCU and clockspring .... but different N80s
... and (of course) they both came with 5speeds, so it stands to reason this can be done to a 2004 and perhaps a 2003

here are the 2 vins I had compared if anyone wants to compare these further (by looking through MBZ EPC, etc)
2004 SL600 no paddles WDBSK76F44F068228 (Omar) 5spd without 428 option
TCU 0325454632,
clock spring 0325454732
N80 0285456932

2005 SL600 with paddles WDBSK76F25F090651 (ebay) 5spd with 428 option
TCU 0325454632,
clock spring 0325454732
N80 0335456232 (replaces 0365453732)

Cheers,
Chris

BlownV8

Check with these guys. They can probably get you going.

https://www.commandonline.co.uk/padd...er-module.html

If it can be done on a 210E, it can be done on a 230 SL.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...r-install.html

latemodel21

Your first link is to the paddle converter module that I designed and manufacture (commandonline is one of my distributors) ... which is only for AMGs (as indicated in my last post) and the second link is to the DIY wireless solution I mentioned in my last post (I gave that user some pointers on that install and would be happy to in this case as well).

Cheers,
Chris
Latemodel21 Products

BlownV8

This comment thew me and that's why I posted that there was a path to the upgrade. You wrote quite a bit on the topic but I made it easier on the guy and gave him a heads up to the DIY.

Skr1

Thank you for the input .I respect your knowledge on this subject.
First Job is to find out what has happened to the+ - shift up/down.
And then look at the options .
I will post on here once I find out the fault.
If you have any other thoughts that might assist me please let me know I need all the help I can get.
again thanks for your wisdom.