Transmission and/or Computer problems
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4
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C230 Kompressor
Transmission and/or Computer problems
2000 C230 Kompressor @ 102000
I started up the car and shifted into reverse and heard a loud clunk. I continued to back out and shifted into drive. When I drove off, I noticed the car would not shift automatically into 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear. It will just stay in 1st. I pulled over and tried to shift the car into park so I can step outside. I could not shift it to Reverse or Park. Only neutral. And when I shift to Drive, it would be a rough shift. So I went around the block in first gear and went back to my driveway. Put the car in neutral and turned off the car. Then I was able to shift it to Park and take out the key. I started up the car again and the car worked fine. Shifting was smooth and I can go through all the gears just fine. I then left the car for the rest of the day. The next morning, same problems. I shifted into reverse and then drive and it would be a rough shift, then when I tried to shift into reverse or park, I couldn't. I would have to turn the car off in neutral, then I can shift into reverse or park. After several tries of turning the car off/on, it will finally shift fine. I also noticed when the car is not working right, the dashboard would not tell you what gear you are in. It would be blank. When the car is working fine, it would show the gears changing when you shift.
Anybody have any ideas on what the problem could be and how much for the repair. I was thinking of buying a new car now and depending on how much the repair would be will decide on my future purchase. I need a reliable car since I have a baby on the way
I started up the car and shifted into reverse and heard a loud clunk. I continued to back out and shifted into drive. When I drove off, I noticed the car would not shift automatically into 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear. It will just stay in 1st. I pulled over and tried to shift the car into park so I can step outside. I could not shift it to Reverse or Park. Only neutral. And when I shift to Drive, it would be a rough shift. So I went around the block in first gear and went back to my driveway. Put the car in neutral and turned off the car. Then I was able to shift it to Park and take out the key. I started up the car again and the car worked fine. Shifting was smooth and I can go through all the gears just fine. I then left the car for the rest of the day. The next morning, same problems. I shifted into reverse and then drive and it would be a rough shift, then when I tried to shift into reverse or park, I couldn't. I would have to turn the car off in neutral, then I can shift into reverse or park. After several tries of turning the car off/on, it will finally shift fine. I also noticed when the car is not working right, the dashboard would not tell you what gear you are in. It would be blank. When the car is working fine, it would show the gears changing when you shift.
Anybody have any ideas on what the problem could be and how much for the repair. I was thinking of buying a new car now and depending on how much the repair would be will decide on my future purchase. I need a reliable car since I have a baby on the way
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
C230 Kompressor
So i haven't done much since trying to reset the tranny computer. When I did the reset, the problem didn't go away. I let the car sit for awhile while running. Turned off the car and immediately back on, and it shifted fine. Thought maybe the fluid level was low and it needed to be heated up to raise temperature. So I figured to try and test that theory in the next couple of days. So each day, I tried the car and it worked just fine from the start. Did that 3 days in a row and each time, no problems. I then thought maybe it's because I don't drive the car enough before and the tranny fluid was not circulating through the system. The car was only being used 1 or 2 times a week and was sitting in the garage for about 5 days before I had the problem. So I figured I would not start the car for 3 days. Tried it last night and still working. So I'm stumped. Is it possible the reset of the transmission worked? Or is it possible that it was low fluid or fluid not circulating in the system from not driving it enough? So as of now, the car works but now my A/C is not blowing cold air. This car has been nothing but a headache since I got it from my brother 3 months ago. Thinking of selling/trading it while it's still working unless someone has some idea to what is going on.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 39
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I had the same problem but only once. The car would not go out from 1st. I was shooting out rpm's. I finally pulled over and turned the car off and the on. It has worked fine ever since. sorry. if you want I can sell you a new star diagnostic system? lol
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 101
Likes: 1
From: Portland Area
2000 C230K and 2002 ML320
If the transmission is not shifting, that means it is in "limp home mode"... it will have one reverse gear and one forward gear (2nd)... needs to go to a dealer or a Mercedes certified shop.
