Violent downshift to 1'st gear at low speed deceleration (99 320)
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
2001 CLK320
Originally Posted by barflux
My CLK320, is very sluggish in W mode (in the morning), but when I have it in S Mode its fine. After the car has warmed up then W Mode is fine. But no probs while driving, gear change is smooth as silk.
Is there any probs driving in W mode?
Any ideas?
N
Is there any probs driving in W mode?
Any ideas?
N
Also, in W mode, you're getting a 2nd gear start, so it will probably hold 2nd gear for a while before going to 3rd and on...
I've noticed when starting off from a cold start is S mode, if I accelerate slowly, it will hold 1st and 2nd gear upshifts a lot longer than typical. After the first 1/2 mile or so, the shifting resumes the normal mode.
When warmed up, or warm startup after going in a store the shifting pattern is the normal "faster" mode.
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Richmond BC, Canada
335is
i'm a bit confused here... is this problem ur talking about happens when the car changes gears from 2nd to 1st automatically or are you guys talking about changing from 2nd to 1st nudging the gear leaver? cause when i nudge the gear leaver changing from 2nd to 1st it's very very harsh....
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
2004 S430
Alright...i'm kinda pis't about this one...the transmission shop replaced the console switches (gear position sensor) for 300 bucks and it STILL does this violent downshift that feels like i'm getting rear-ended. i replaced the MAF sensor about 18 months ago. ANYONE COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS? this is my second transmission!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,300
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From: The President must win the Peace
Originally Posted by silver99clk320
Alright...i'm kinda pis't about this one...the transmission shop replaced the console switches (gear position sensor) for 300 bucks and it STILL does this violent downshift that feels like i'm getting rear-ended. i replaced the MAF sensor about 18 months ago. ANYONE COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS? this is my second transmission!
after that find another mechanic, maybe a different pair of eyes will help the problem.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
2004 S430
thanks...i've been keeping it in W (winter) mode...which makes it much less frequent, but it still happens...especially if i decelerate quickly--like last-minute decision to stop at a yellow/red light.
anyone else come up with a fix for this?
anyone else come up with a fix for this?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,927
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From: Vancouver, B.C.
2002 E55 AMG
This just happened to me today in my 98 E320. I pulled into a driveway to turn around when it happened. So I turn left, stop, put the lever in R, wait a second and hit the gas lightly (it's in S mode). The car lagged quite a bit and it felt like it was in W mode instead of S. So anyways, I come to a stop, put it in D, wait a second and lightly hit the gas to cruise off. The car starts off in second gear 
and I look at the W&S switch confused. (All this time I have been keeping a constant throttle position). Just as I look up, the car violently shifts down into first and shifts back to second.
I'm thinking of changing the transmission fluid.
Oh, BTW, this is the FIRST time it happened.
and I look at the W&S switch confused. (All this time I have been keeping a constant throttle position). Just as I look up, the car violently shifts down into first and shifts back to second. I'm thinking of changing the transmission fluid.
Oh, BTW, this is the FIRST time it happened.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
i have 99 E320 and 2000 E320. the 2000 had downshift anomaly and Phil
Smart (Seattle) first tried clearing the tranny programming. nope, still
had d/shifting problem...though abated when in "W" mode.
two weeks later, swapped for new tranny and the problem appears to
have been eliminated. No mention on the work order of MAF. Starmark
still in effect and took care of the repair cost.
1999 has been smooth as silk since it's purchase the past 2+ years.
oh, i checked for TSBs "shifting" or "transmission" and see no mention of
the above mentioned anomalies. weird...since it appears to be something
experienced by many. maybe not enough....
Smart (Seattle) first tried clearing the tranny programming. nope, still
had d/shifting problem...though abated when in "W" mode.
two weeks later, swapped for new tranny and the problem appears to
have been eliminated. No mention on the work order of MAF. Starmark
still in effect and took care of the repair cost.
1999 has been smooth as silk since it's purchase the past 2+ years.
oh, i checked for TSBs "shifting" or "transmission" and see no mention of
the above mentioned anomalies. weird...since it appears to be something
experienced by many. maybe not enough....
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I have a 2002 CLK 320 and yesterday I experienced the following problem 3 times: -
Kicking down gently to overtake a car the power is lost completely and from the engine noise and the rev counter, it's obvious that the transmission has jumped into neutral. The only way to rectify is to pull over and stop and select neutral then wait a second or two and then select drive again and pull away. Very very scary this - before contacting my stealership, I wondered whether this problem is known and if it's a variation on the one described in this thread? I would mention that the temperature outside was around 6/12 degrees celcius and the the drive setting was in "S" - at normal engine operating temperature. It seems a random thing as I tried several times on a clear road to duplicate it without success. Kicking down to the "second" click position to shift down 2 gears does not seem to generate this problem.
Any help or information would be appreciated.
Paul
Kicking down gently to overtake a car the power is lost completely and from the engine noise and the rev counter, it's obvious that the transmission has jumped into neutral. The only way to rectify is to pull over and stop and select neutral then wait a second or two and then select drive again and pull away. Very very scary this - before contacting my stealership, I wondered whether this problem is known and if it's a variation on the one described in this thread? I would mention that the temperature outside was around 6/12 degrees celcius and the the drive setting was in "S" - at normal engine operating temperature. It seems a random thing as I tried several times on a clear road to duplicate it without success. Kicking down to the "second" click position to shift down 2 gears does not seem to generate this problem.
Any help or information would be appreciated.
Paul
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
C180 W205 Exclusive
C180 W205 2015 Same here
Same story with mine when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.
Dare not touch brakes which make it that much noticible
Did try the manual reset, but to no avail, feels most uncomfortable.
Car booked in for a software upgrade Wednesday, still under service plan, and hope the issue can be resolved.
Dare not touch brakes which make it that much noticible
Did try the manual reset, but to no avail, feels most uncomfortable.
Car booked in for a software upgrade Wednesday, still under service plan, and hope the issue can be resolved.
