Matt H

Anybody have suggestions or ideas for rough shifting on a '96 C220? The transmission has always been a little jerky really, but it seems that the shift it just horrible now. I checked the fluid level already. I think these cars do have the adaptive transmission(?) maybe the shift points need to be reset?

Matt
Denver, Colo

David C Klasse

Nope, doesn't have the adaptive transmission. Your trans is vacuum controlled. When was the last time you had your fluid changed? If it's been awhile, I'd definitly change it ASAP.

Can you be more descriptive about the rough shifting?>

Matt H

David,

Ok, so that can't be the problem. It's been a while since I've had the fluid serviced and I'm scheduled to do that next week.

The rough shift is sort of a jolt really. Just not a smooth transistion from one gear to the next. It's sometimes enough to rock the car(front to back).

I don't notice any sort of power loss or anything of that nature, unless I am moving from park to drive, the RPMs will dip below 500rpm somtimes. Perhaps it's just a ATF fluid problem, but it just doesn't feel that simple.

Matt

David C Klasse

Matt,

How many miles are on the car?
Another common wear item could be the (front) Flex Disk. I would definitly have it inspected. The part is just less than a hundred bucks and takes less than an hour to install. Does the car jolt when going from D to R or R to D? If so, then that might be the problem.
Also, if the jolting is more apparent when the engine is cold, that is normal.

Good luck. !

Matt H

I actually had the front flex disc replaced about 10k miles ago to correct a nasty vibration on the drive shaft. There are 82k mi on the car.

No, the shift from D->R or R->D isn't a jolt at all, but the RPMs do drop. However, rough shifting does occur when you're driving, going from 1,2,3. Shifting up seems to be when I notice it most. Will pay attention to down shifting...

hubert

I have a 1997 C280 and when i bough the car everything was perfect then i changed the fluid and flex discs and since than the tranny started jerking on firs two gears when its upshifting the rpm drop like 500 and then pulls like somebody hit me from the back. I took the car to a dealer two times and tey just reset some codes but the problem is not going away. And also when is downshifting from 2 to1 it jerks to and i have no idea whats going on.

Matt H

Hubert,

That's exactly what I'm seeing. The hitting in the back thing is dead on. I couldn't explain it until you worded it as such! Let me know what you find out!

hubert

The only thing i can think of is to put a brand new tranny or change it to manual.

Matt H

I wonder if the problem isn't actually with propel. shaft or something like that.. who knows. It feels like the rough shift is sort of in the rear, not sure if you situation is that same perhaps?

hubert

Yup is the same in the rear but when it down shifts i feel it in the front but this only happens sone times and only from 2 to 1.

Matt H

It's got to be a mount, shaft, bearing support.. something. I just can't see it being the transmission. I'm thinking of buying an OBDC Scanner, but then again, that's only going to show generic codes due to MB using their own diagnostics..

hubert

Keep me posted on that one . Thank You.

C220GUY

CHECK THIS OUT... ALL YOU C220 OWNERS LISTEN up.

Have had a tranny problem for 2 years.
Similair stuck shifting to all repots.

I had to jump start my 1998 528 with my trusty 94 c220. i made the mistake of cross wiring the cables. I burned the abs fuse. (btw) is located away from the other fuses.

Two things happened:

Odometer stopped logging speed and mileage.

Transmission was shifting flawlessly!!!
Drove it for a couple of days like this.,.. very smooth shifting.

As soon as I replaced that fuse my transmission had trouble shifting from 2nd to 3rd.

Is is possible that the abs speed sensor would cause shifting problems???

davis449

Since this is a tranny thread I thought I'd ask my question here. I may post in tech forum too. My question relates to the topic too. Is it normal for the tranny's in a C 280 to kind of "kick" a little when they shift. Sometimes my shifts are glass smooth and sometimes there's a real kick to it. My dad told me that Mercedes told him that this was a normal thing for this car ('95 C 280) and that I shouldn't worry about it. This thread make me wonder about that.

SLCPUNK

My old 190e did the same thing. I drove a very nice low mileage 300e that jerked hard (I thought anyway).

I have the same "Jerk" on my c280. I have read that especially before it warms up that it is normal for it to pull hard from 1-2 gear. If I remember correctly it had something to do with protecting the trannie (somebody chime in if I'm incorrect or remember wrong). I notice it shift smoother once it's warmed up. It took a little getting used to when I first started driving Mercedes, but now I anticipate it. I have test driven larger ones and (unless it was my imagination) they didn't seem to jerk like that.

So to answer your question on the c280, yes it's normal to do that. I think it's kind of clunky feeling and akward at first but I like it now. I still think my Camry shifts silky smooth compared to my c280. Good luck.