Lemon law..tranny problems
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Lemon law..tranny problems
Hi all, have been reading the posts and found some very helpful info but was wondering if anyone had any more insight into my problem. I have a coupe, with the six speed, non c7 and the transmission intermittently pops out of first gear as I begin to accelerate, its already been to the dealer twice and they can't find any problem, I've told them it was intermittent and they probably wouldn't. I believe the problem to be a bad synchro, I would be happy with just having it replaced, but they don't seem to willing to do that, just wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem or if you know of any possible solutions. I am going to try to get it covered under the lemon law for Massachusetts, however I only have 3000 miles of coverage left for the third claim and then my letter.. Thanks for any info you can give.
Mario
Mario
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From: Sri Lanka
I would take it back to the dealer and if they say they can't fix it.. then see if another dealer will adress the issue.. if not... ask for something in writing from the dealer that won't fix your car and in the meantime, write to MB about your car and depending on the state, they have 2 weeks to contact you and try to fix it for the 4th time.... and trust me.. when you send the letter... they will get your car in and fix theproblem...
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Mine doesn't do that so it's not normal. Sell the C230 and Honda 900 and get the Honda RC51. The problem is proving that there's something wrong since they don't get paid to diagnose your problem, only to fix it. I went through this with an intermittent problem with the A/C on my Infiniti and eventually it led to a lemon law claim and lucky for me the A/C acted up when the court appointed mechanic came to my house to verify the problem. You may or may not be as lucky.
Actually the problem everyone seems to have is an intermittent heavy clutch feel. Some like me get it after a long trip on the fwy were I drive fast but don't use the clutch much and some say it's heat related.
Actually the problem everyone seems to have is an intermittent heavy clutch feel. Some like me get it after a long trip on the fwy were I drive fast but don't use the clutch much and some say it's heat related.
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
Mine has never popped out of 1st on it's own, but it has almost done it. By that I mean it will take almost no force on the shifter to get it to go from 1st to neutral, and on a "normal" 1st to 2nd shift, it usually clunks and sometimes grinds just slightly. The factory rep did approve putting a 2nd gear syncro in since he did feel it catch between 1st and 2nd when shifting slow-like driving in a mall or sub-division. I have had the same problem with duplicating the problem for the dealer since the car is always on it's best behavior when I take it in. But the stiff clutch is very repeatable if you can just get the dealer to drive it long enough to do it . Mine is in the shop right now, so I will post the results.
BTW, Buellwinkle, the only bike to get right now is a GSXR1000. Untouchable.
BTW, Buellwinkle, the only bike to get right now is a GSXR1000. Untouchable.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally posted by speedfrk
BTW, Buellwinkle, the only bike to get right now is a GSXR1000. Untouchable.
BTW, Buellwinkle, the only bike to get right now is a GSXR1000. Untouchable.
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Agreed the rc51 is a wonderful bike, but I'd prefer the Aprillia RSV over it, just like the character better. I am going to try to lemon law it or at least contact MB directly and see if they would just put a new tranny in or even a new synchro. All I know is that its not normal, it isn't my driving, been driving manuals for 7 years now, including heavy duty trucks, and its only going to get worse with time. Would be nice if I could get a c7 transmission instead, but I'll settle for just getting mine fixed.
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C230K Coupe
Speedfrk--you and I share the exact problem with the 2nd gear synchro. Haven't encountered it since spring since the temperature needs to be cool to cold. One thing...the "official" reason the 2nd gear synchro can be crunchy is to force the driver to increase RPM's in order to quickly warm up the catalytic convertor for computer controlled emissions. In fact I have heard from a previous S500 owner who, after complaining, got the same response--or load of BS, don't know. Doesn't seem normal to me when 2 or 3 out of 200 hundred have this annoyance. I did notice, that when avoiding the crunch and getting the 1st gear RPMs way up (4700), as instructed, it feels thrown out of gear when starting the shift. Sometimes with 2nd to 3rd at 4000. 1st gear it is possible to hear a small pop. However, I think this is the expected behavior with every w203 manny. Please post a reply as soon as you can on the outcome of your situation. Never have had the heavy clutch experience.
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
dontwakemeup,
Mine is also much better since summer because of the heat, but it is still there and quite annoying. The service writer called this morning and said they are waiting on mercedes to send them some special tools to do the job, so it may be a while before I get my car back!
Mine is also much better since summer because of the heat, but it is still there and quite annoying. The service writer called this morning and said they are waiting on mercedes to send them some special tools to do the job, so it may be a while before I get my car back!
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Speedfrk and dontwakemeup, I've also encountered the hard shifting from 1st to 2nd, especially in the cold, that was what I brought the car in for the first time in February, they supposedly tightened the linkage and that was all.. It did help slightly, but it was still hard shifting at low speeds when cold. I chalked that up to the tranny needing to be warmed up since the problem seemed to go away once everything was warm. But I may have them look at that again too.
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
The hard shifting when cold can be helped by having them lower the fluid level 10mm according to the service dept that did mine. But that is different than the clunk/grind problem I have when cold. My car also shifts perfect if you rev it to 4500+ before shifting into 2nd, but that is a bit much for driving around town, at the mall, etc.
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to honda900rr
Aprilia makes a sweet ride with phenomenal character and sound. It is true that they are going to stop using Rotax engines?
In any case, my BMW is an Aprilia cousin-- with the Rotax. Nice ride.
My second choice in cars and bikes is Honda b/c of the great build quality. And I don't mean that to be as snotty as it sounds...
In any case, my BMW is an Aprilia cousin-- with the Rotax. Nice ride.
My second choice in cars and bikes is Honda b/c of the great build quality. And I don't mean that to be as snotty as it sounds...
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From: Mid Atlantic
'02 C240/6
My 02 C240/6 pops out of first as well
The problem is intermittent. I can never make it happen at the dealership. I cannot purposely make it happen on my own. The dealer has not been able to replicate it in their test drives. It seems to pop out when I am doing my most relaxed driving (not thinking about the issue), like talking on a stop light and taking off slowly.
Dealer head mechanic says it might have to do with not fully engaging first all the way, as might happen in a very relaxed mood where you might just move the stick towards first but not completely/strongly. He says all Mercedes manuals are that way. I'm not sure if it is BS. When mine pops out it sounds like a huge boom and scares the hell out of everyone. I have asked dealer to check that out twice, answer has always been "not able to replicate problem".
This is the only issue I have had with my car, 11k miles, 11 months. I've got 8yr/100k mile warranty so I figure if something is indeed wrong it will happen within the period.
Dealer head mechanic says it might have to do with not fully engaging first all the way, as might happen in a very relaxed mood where you might just move the stick towards first but not completely/strongly. He says all Mercedes manuals are that way. I'm not sure if it is BS. When mine pops out it sounds like a huge boom and scares the hell out of everyone. I have asked dealer to check that out twice, answer has always been "not able to replicate problem".
This is the only issue I have had with my car, 11k miles, 11 months. I've got 8yr/100k mile warranty so I figure if something is indeed wrong it will happen within the period.
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Jules, that is the EXACT same problem as mine. The dealer is never able to replicate it either, although it doesn't necessarily happen when I'm in a relaxed stated, it happened the other day as I was trying to make a quick getaway from a light. But same thing. Loud boom and scares everyone around. I am positive I've engaged it all the way, so my thought is the synchro. I only have the factory warranty, so I want it taken care of now just in case. If you don't mind me asking how much was the additional warranty? That might be an option I can consider, although I would really rather it just be replaced now.
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From: Mid Atlantic
'02 C240/6
ext warranty was $1700
However, I do not think it is a bad transmission or synchro. I think it has to do with a particular incompatibility between driver and Mercedes Manuals. The Merc tranny could be better.
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My problem is definitely a defect. There is NO way its a problem with me and the transmission, i've driven everything from race cars with straight cut gears to big rigs with 12 speed tranny's and not had any problems. I'll find out soon enough though as a week from Monday the dealer is taking the tranny apart to find a problem.
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From: Mid Atlantic
'02 C240/6
Please let me know what they find
I have also driven a variety of manuals for over 20 years without problems. The explanation of the dealer is that Merc trannys are just that way. I would like to know if a defect is indeed found cause then I will have the defect too and would get it fixed. Thanks!
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Well I brought my car to the dealer last week for the third time for the transmission problem. The service manager kept it for a day and after driving it about 40 miles was able to replicate the problem. HOWEVER, he claims this was due to the fact that "he had his hand on the gearshift and at a certain rpm the synchros line up and slide out of gear with the slightest pressure." My limited knowledge of transmissions made me believe he was bs-ing me and when I asked some mechanic friends they agreed, the pressure shouldn't change, and having your hand resting on the gearshift should not cause it to pop out of gear. We went back and forth for a while and I just picked up the car figuring I'd end up trying to get Mercedes to fix it by writing a letter or something when today the service manager calls up and tells me he ordered a new tranny and when it comes in he'll call me to swap them out. So.. time will tell how the new one works.
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
Definately let us know if the new tranny fixes the problem. They put new syncros and shift forks in mine, and it did not fix the terrible 1st to 2nd shift. Why they didn't just put a new tranny in I can't figure out.
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Mine pops out of 1st quite easily, but never on its own. To do that, it definitely requires a light hand (even finger) push. But then again, in general it shifts very easily, up and down, so I can't complain. The only 2 moments I have to be concious about are 1st to 2nd - I have to "lead" the lever and sort of "feel" it go through (but it's fine, I actually like it), and 2nd down to 1st at speed above 0 - needs to be forced. But, as I said, in general I'm very happy with it and usually switch gears by flicking fingers rather than clutching the knob and moving the forearm. All that applies to relaxed driving mode - in "sporty" mode it does just fine, precise and shure shifting.
Last edited by vadim; Jul 30, 2002 at 04:14 PM.
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I am bringing it to Lewbar in West Springfield, I've called Keeler in Latham, NY and asked the service manager there what he thought and he didn't think the transmission should pop out of gear no matter how old it is with just your hand resting on the stick, but without being able to replicate the problem he said he wouldn't be able to fix it either. At this point it doesn't make that much sense to bring it to another dealer as they are going to swap out the transmission anyway. But if I should have any other problem with the new transmission I will be seeking out a new dealer for service.
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From: Nashua, NH
2008 VW GTI
Originally posted by vadim
Mine pops out of 1st quite easily, but never on its own. To do that, it definitely requires a light hand (even finger) push. But then again, in general it shifts very easily, up and down, so I can't complain. The only 2 moments I have to be concious about are 1st to 2nd - I have to "lead" the lever and sort of "feel" it go through (but it's fine, I actually like it), and 2nd down to 1st at speed above 0 - needs to be forced. But, as I said, in general I'm very happy with it and usually switch gears by flicking fingers rather than clutching the knob and moving the forearm. All that applies to relaxed driving mode - in "sporty" mode it does just fine, precise and shure shifting.
Mine pops out of 1st quite easily, but never on its own. To do that, it definitely requires a light hand (even finger) push. But then again, in general it shifts very easily, up and down, so I can't complain. The only 2 moments I have to be concious about are 1st to 2nd - I have to "lead" the lever and sort of "feel" it go through (but it's fine, I actually like it), and 2nd down to 1st at speed above 0 - needs to be forced. But, as I said, in general I'm very happy with it and usually switch gears by flicking fingers rather than clutching the knob and moving the forearm. All that applies to relaxed driving mode - in "sporty" mode it does just fine, precise and shure shifting.
