Transmission and Steering Issues - 3rd time from the shop
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Mazda
Transmission and Steering Issues - 3rd time from the shop
Hello MbWorld,
I just wanted to check if what I'm worried about are just some weird quirks to this car or these might be legitimate issues that might cause me more headaches down the road. I've taken it to my dealer 3 times now, and they are having difficulty fixing the issues.
1. Steering Wheel Tapping: It first started out as a clunk when I turn my steering wheel side to side in parking maneuvers. They found a defective control arm on the passenger's side and replaced it but the clunk was still there. Took it back again and they couldn't find the issue so they just retorqued everything. Clunking is gone but I still feel a tapping sensation in my steering wheel when I turn (like something is tapping on the steering column inside the car and I feel it through the wheel). The tapping isn't really annoying or anything, just worried this might be an issue down the road.
2. Hiccuping Transmission: I had a C400 and that was a jerky transmission, this is different. Whenever it shifts to the next gear, it almost feels as if I let go of the accelerator and stepped on it again. The power just goes off and on with every shift. This issue comes and goes, so I can really contrast between when it normally shifts vs. when it's shifting really weird. I tried switching from C, S, and S+ and this weird shifting behaviour persists through all modes when its happening. This is different than the S+ aggressive shifting, this almost feels similar to traction control cutting power every time it shifts. Dealer said they updated the transmission software but didn't fix the issue.
Should I keep booking appointments until they find something or am I just being paranoid?
Any input would be great.
Thank you,
I just wanted to check if what I'm worried about are just some weird quirks to this car or these might be legitimate issues that might cause me more headaches down the road. I've taken it to my dealer 3 times now, and they are having difficulty fixing the issues.
1. Steering Wheel Tapping: It first started out as a clunk when I turn my steering wheel side to side in parking maneuvers. They found a defective control arm on the passenger's side and replaced it but the clunk was still there. Took it back again and they couldn't find the issue so they just retorqued everything. Clunking is gone but I still feel a tapping sensation in my steering wheel when I turn (like something is tapping on the steering column inside the car and I feel it through the wheel). The tapping isn't really annoying or anything, just worried this might be an issue down the road.
2. Hiccuping Transmission: I had a C400 and that was a jerky transmission, this is different. Whenever it shifts to the next gear, it almost feels as if I let go of the accelerator and stepped on it again. The power just goes off and on with every shift. This issue comes and goes, so I can really contrast between when it normally shifts vs. when it's shifting really weird. I tried switching from C, S, and S+ and this weird shifting behaviour persists through all modes when its happening. This is different than the S+ aggressive shifting, this almost feels similar to traction control cutting power every time it shifts. Dealer said they updated the transmission software but didn't fix the issue.
Should I keep booking appointments until they find something or am I just being paranoid?
Any input would be great.
Thank you,
Last edited by kevinkevinson; Nov 8, 2019 at 10:00 AM.
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c63s
I have the steering issue.. Makes a clunking sounds going over speed bumps at angles and if I just shake the steering wheel back and forth. Have taken it to two dealers and was told it "might be the struct valves" but was told to come back if it gets worse. Chantilly VA Mercedes... not going back again.
Don't have the transmission issue you are describing exactly but I do have this weird sound when accelerating from a dead stop.. Kinda sounds like a "bump" exactly as you would say it.
Don't have the transmission issue you are describing exactly but I do have this weird sound when accelerating from a dead stop.. Kinda sounds like a "bump" exactly as you would say it.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I don't have any issues with my steering. What year is the car? As for the transmission, I'm not entirely sure from your description if there is an issue or not. The C63/S uses a clutch in place of a torque converter, so a lot of the sensations you feel are similar to driving a manual transmission car. The ECU will ease off the throttle during a shift for smoothness, although this car having a very sporty transmission tune it will never be as smooth as an S-Class. It certainly shouldn't feel like you are loosing power during a shift, but depending on the driving mode and how much throttle you give it, there can be a slight momentary interruption in power delivery during a shift. Mostly when driving casually and with moderate throttle input in an attempt to smooth out the shift.
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Mazda
@Defiant81 Yea, this car has a lot of little niggles that you wouldn't think a $90KCAD car might have. They're small things, but it's causing me a lot of anxiety over the longevity of this car.
@superswiss It's a 2016. The thing with the transmission issue is that it's on and off, so I can feel what it's "supposed" to feel like vs. this weird transmission behaviour back to back in literally 1 drive. The issue happens the same whether I'm driving slow or fast; when I'm driving fast, the car lurches from the power loss between gear shifts and I can hear the roaring of the engine cut out and come back on, so it's more pronounced when I'm driving aggressively. Contrast with when it drives normally and I'm driving aggressively, where the gear shifts so quick it snaps my neck back to my headrest and makes a large farting noise from the exhaust.
This behaviour was there before I got a transmission flush, and Mercedes said they gave me a transmission software update.Should I just keep taking it back? It's on and off so it's hard to replicate at the dealer as well unfortunately.
@superswiss It's a 2016. The thing with the transmission issue is that it's on and off, so I can feel what it's "supposed" to feel like vs. this weird transmission behaviour back to back in literally 1 drive. The issue happens the same whether I'm driving slow or fast; when I'm driving fast, the car lurches from the power loss between gear shifts and I can hear the roaring of the engine cut out and come back on, so it's more pronounced when I'm driving aggressively. Contrast with when it drives normally and I'm driving aggressively, where the gear shifts so quick it snaps my neck back to my headrest and makes a large farting noise from the exhaust.
This behaviour was there before I got a transmission flush, and Mercedes said they gave me a transmission software update.Should I just keep taking it back? It's on and off so it's hard to replicate at the dealer as well unfortunately.
Last edited by kevinkevinson; Nov 11, 2019 at 12:15 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,432
Likes: 5,343
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
@Defiant81 Yea, this car has a lot of little niggles that you wouldn't think a $90KCAD car might have. They're small things, but it's causing me a lot of anxiety over the longevity of this car.
@superswiss It's a 2016. The thing with the transmission issue is that it's on and off, so I can feel what it's "supposed" to feel like vs. this weird transmission behaviour back to back in literally 1 drive. The issue happens the same whether I'm driving slow or fast; when I'm driving fast, the car lurches from the power loss between gear shifts and I can hear the roaring of the engine cut out and come back on, so it's more pronounced when I'm driving aggressively. Contrast with when it drives normally and I'm driving aggressively, where the gear shifts so quick it snaps my neck back to my headrest and makes a large farting noise from the exhaust.
This behaviour was there before I got a transmission flush, and Mercedes said they gave me a transmission software update.Should I just keep taking it back? It's on and off so it's hard to replicate at the dealer as well unfortunately.
@superswiss It's a 2016. The thing with the transmission issue is that it's on and off, so I can feel what it's "supposed" to feel like vs. this weird transmission behaviour back to back in literally 1 drive. The issue happens the same whether I'm driving slow or fast; when I'm driving fast, the car lurches from the power loss between gear shifts and I can hear the roaring of the engine cut out and come back on, so it's more pronounced when I'm driving aggressively. Contrast with when it drives normally and I'm driving aggressively, where the gear shifts so quick it snaps my neck back to my headrest and makes a large farting noise from the exhaust.
This behaviour was there before I got a transmission flush, and Mercedes said they gave me a transmission software update.Should I just keep taking it back? It's on and off so it's hard to replicate at the dealer as well unfortunately.
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Mazda
@superswiss Thanks for the follow up. No lights in the dash or any other indication something is wrong. I've tried in Sport and Sport + to find the weird transmission behaviour to do the same thing through all my modes. I haven't deliberately turned off traction however. I'll try turning off traction to when my car acts up again; in the meanwhile, I guess I'll have to book another appointment and hope the transmission issue shows itself to the service techs. Just starting to feel bad for all the repeat appointments.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,432
Likes: 5,343
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
@superswiss Thanks for the follow up. No lights in the dash or any other indication something is wrong. I've tried in Sport and Sport + to find the weird transmission behaviour to do the same thing through all my modes. I haven't deliberately turned off traction however. I'll try turning off traction to when my car acts up again; in the meanwhile, I guess I'll have to book another appointment and hope the transmission issue shows itself to the service techs. Just starting to feel bad for all the repeat appointments.
Last edited by superswiss; Nov 11, 2019 at 03:03 PM.
