Ive been told my american car doesnt have a sport button. Insted, it is always in S mode as a default?


When i start the car in the morning it runs cold, and it holds gears when i let off the gas all the way. When the car warms up it shifts like any car should.


Wich one of those is correct? My cousins CTS in sport mode will hold gears while in sprot mode like my car does in the morning. But, unlike his car, my car only does it when it first starts, after a few minutes it goes to regualr shifting. It also seems faster in the morning.


Any idea's, thoughts, or knowledge would be great.

 

There's a lot of confusion over the S/E switch on some Mercedes shift consoles. At least for the W201, the "S" means "Standard" and the "E" stands for "Economy." There is some indication that in certain literature reference to the "S" being "Sport" might have been mentioned.

In the W201, in "S" the car will still start in 2nd gear and behave like a transmission that doesn't have the switch.

In "E" the car will start in 2nd gear, but will upshift to 3rd and 4th faster, rather than allowing you to accelerate in the lower gears, so that the car gets into the most fuel saving gear as fast as possible.

 

My car, doesnt have a switch. It also starts out in 1st gear all the time. Unless I have 5 gears, then im pretty sure it starts out in first all the time.


My main question is that when its cold, it kinda holds the gears when i let off the gas it doesnt shift into the next gear. like it should. Its also noticiable faster when its cold.

Then when it warms up it shifts fine and drives like normal. But it still starts in first. so why does it run faster when its cold? is that normal ?

 

You might have an issue with the vacuum lines or the vacuum modulator on the side of the transmission that governs the shift points. The "Bowden" cable that runs from the throttle assembly to the modulator might need adjustment.

As a word of warning, if you have the tech manual for the trans, either the MBUSA guide or the UK Haynes, make sure you write down any changes you make to the Bowden cable settings, and make any adjustments in 1/4 turn increments, so that you can put things back to the way they were if need be.

 

I was thinking of messing with that cable down there. But I decided not to fix it till its broke.


It goes, and im fine with whatever gear it starts out in.

My main question, is why does it run smoother and faster in the morning when its a cold engine and then when the engine warms up it drives "slower"

unless thats another feature of the cable? I want it to drive as nicley as it does in the morning ALL the time! that would be great. It also ildes perfect in the monring, and it shakes alittle when it warms up?

 

There are quite a few fuel management pieces on the W201 that are vacuum controlled, so if you've got a leak somewhere, the higher idle speed used when the engine is cold or first started could be affecting the other vacuum devices in the system.

 

is there an electronic way to check vacuum leaks.. or do i have to spray carb cleaner till the idle goes up alittle to find it?

 

The MB way is to hang some vacuum gauges inside the car, run lines out through the car doors to under the hood. The service manual for the trans has the test procedure.