Hard shifts on a cold engine
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Joined: Oct 2023
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Black W204
Hard shifts on a cold engine
I thought I’d put this up to see if there are any ideas on how to remedy. I have a 2008 Mercedes c200 kompressor. After the car has been sitting for 24 hours or longer, I get a hard shift from first gear to second. This only happens during the first couple minutes when I drive it and it only happens on the shift from 1st to 2nd. After 5 mins of driving, it shifts smoothly. When I take it to the mechanic, they can’t see anything on the diagnostic tool and it shifts smoothly as it’s already warm. They checked the fluid and it’s on the mark. What might be the cause of this and how can I fix it?
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,499
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Have you done a search? I remember seeing a similar issue posted a couple of months ago.
- How did your mechanic check the tranny fluid level? The only way is to open the drain plug at a SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE and see if the fluid drips out. Too cold or too hot will give an incorrect reading.
- How cold is cold? Dubai cold or Anchorage cold?
- When did this start?
- When was your last transmission service?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Black W204
Have you done a search? I remember seeing a similar issue posted a couple of months ago.
- How did your mechanic check the tranny fluid level? The only way is to open the drain plug at a SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE and see if the fluid drips out. Too cold or too hot will give an incorrect reading.
- How cold is cold? Dubai cold or Anchorage cold?
- When did this start?
- When was your last transmission service?
I had it serviced in December before a road trip. The hard shifts started when I got back. I took it to a transmission specialist, they took it for a drive, found the fluid to be low and filled it up. I don’t think they checked the temp. When it continued, I took it to a mechanic, they checked it (without checking the temp) and said it was nothing. Cold just means it’s been sitting overnight. The temp outside is roughly 30C or 80F. What temp should it be when I check it?
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,499
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I had it serviced in December before a road trip. The hard shifts started when I got back. I took it to a transmission specialist, they took it for a drive, found the fluid to be low and filled it up. I don’t think they checked the temp. When it continued, I took it to a mechanic, they checked it (without checking the temp) and said it was nothing. Cold just means it’s been sitting overnight. The temp outside is roughly 30C or 80F. What temp should it be when I check it?
- Who serviced the tranny? Mercedes or an indy?
- Was the transmission specialist a Mercedes transmission specialist?
- What fluid did they use to "top it off". It needs to meet the exact Mercedes specification for your transmission build, either identified as ATF-134 or ATF-134FE. They are NOT interchangeable nor compatible.
Here's an important link: https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/index.php?language_id=1
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,499
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Here are videos for 7-speed and 5-speed transmission services. They will give you an idea about what is involved in a service.
