Hard shift from 1-> 2 only when it is cold.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
2002 C230 Kompressor
Hard shift from 1-> 2 only when it is cold.
2002 c230 compressor with 5 speed AT.
Scenario: I leave my car overnight and start up the car first time for that day. When I allow the car to idle ~2 to 3 minutes, the transmission has no problem shifting from 1->2. Sometimes, actually most of the time, I'm in a rush so I start driving in less than a minute. When I do, it usually gets stuck in 1st gear for about another minute of driving until it HARD shifts into the 2nd gear. For the rest of the day, this rarely occurs again. It happens more often when it is cold.
And I leave my car overnight again. The same thing repeats over and over.
I'm worried this expensive part of the vehicle is failing. I had the transmission flushed with genuine fluid + AT filter at 100k (I know I know I should've done earlier) (worried about faulty valet rad leaking into ATF too)
Scenario: I leave my car overnight and start up the car first time for that day. When I allow the car to idle ~2 to 3 minutes, the transmission has no problem shifting from 1->2. Sometimes, actually most of the time, I'm in a rush so I start driving in less than a minute. When I do, it usually gets stuck in 1st gear for about another minute of driving until it HARD shifts into the 2nd gear. For the rest of the day, this rarely occurs again. It happens more often when it is cold.
And I leave my car overnight again. The same thing repeats over and over.
I'm worried this expensive part of the vehicle is failing. I had the transmission flushed with genuine fluid + AT filter at 100k (I know I know I should've done earlier) (worried about faulty valet rad leaking into ATF too)
Last edited by netddos; Jan 8, 2014 at 07:01 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,657
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
2005 C230K(sold), Mk7 Jetta
I think Glyn explained somewhere that it keeps in the 1st gear for a minute to heat up the catalytic converters to operating temp faster.
Mine does this too, if it makes you feel better
Mine does this too, if it makes you feel better
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 283
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, ON
2012 C300 Sport 4MATIC (current) 2006 C280 Elegance 4MATIC (sold)
Mine does this too. We've been getting some unusually cold temperatures here and when my car sits outside at work all day it tends to rev up a little high in 1st and then somewhat hard shifts into second. It only does it for a few minutes and I don't get that problem in the morning since the car is parked in the garage all night. If you want to avoid this put the transmission in comfort mode where it uses gears 2, 3, 4 and 5 only until the car warms up somewhat.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
2002 C230 Kompressor
Mine does this too. We've been getting some unusually cold temperatures here and when my car sits outside at work all day it tends to rev up a little high in 1st and then somewhat hard shifts into second. It only does it for a few minutes and I don't get that problem in the morning since the car is parked in the garage all night. If you want to avoid this put the transmission in comfort mode where it uses gears 2, 3, 4 and 5 only until the car warms up somewhat.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 283
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, ON
2012 C300 Sport 4MATIC (current) 2006 C280 Elegance 4MATIC (sold)
I have a C/S button and it's a 5 speed auto. I guess when they did the refresh in 2005 they changed the lettering but it probably does the same thing. Give it a shot and see how it works. Only the RWD models in 2006 had the earlier versions of the 7 speed auto which I was told to avoid.
Trending Topics
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 283
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, ON
2012 C300 Sport 4MATIC (current) 2006 C280 Elegance 4MATIC (sold)
Considering how big the air filters are on these cars I'm surprised MB also had to use a secondary air pump for more air. I find it odd because my previous car, a 2000 Nissan Maxima, passed our rather strict emissions test with flying colours and it was a high mileage motor and had none of the fancy things an MB has. I guess it's the stringent European emission requirements.
