CLK-Chris

Hi Everyone,
I have a 2000 CLK 430 with ~120,000. The other day, I put it in reverse, worked fine, shifted to drive, and started to move. When I was at about 25-30 mph, I noticed the RPMs were increasing to close to 3000, and it was not shifting. I pulled over to try to restart the car, but it would not shift past neutral. The only way to get it back to park is to shut it off in neutral, take my foot off the brake, reapply it, then shift to park with the car off. The gear indicator on the dashboard is also blank.

A few weeks prior, water was spilled on the floor of the passenger seat, but the car was out in direct sun with the top down many days after that, so I was not sure if that could contribute to the problem. This happened the day after a rain storm, but everything in the car was closed.

I took it to the dealer, and they want ~$2,500, and said the ETC, and shifter assembly should be replaced? Before this, the car was working perfectly. Does this make sense that both of these need to be changed? I had checked some other posts that said to try disconnecting the battery to reset the ECU (is the ECU the same as ETC?), or clean the shifter? The posts I had seen mentioned spilling liquid into the shifter, which did not happen this time, so any suggestions that would not require a $2,500 bill would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jeffrey Jay

Hey, my 2k CLK 430 now has the same symptoms, what did you find out??
Bummer you got no response!

Thanks!!

Jeff

OZCLK430

Same Issues here - any luck??

2000 CLK 430

Regards
Dave

Getatme78

I'm now having the same problem with my 2000 s500
I had a check engine light and when I checked the codes it came back as if my 02 sensor and maf was the problem . I got some liquid that was suggested for the fuel tank .. The check engine light went away but the shift problems still occur .. Could the maf or 02 sensor cause this problem ?

MarcusF

Typically no, the O2 sensors don't cause the car to shift in an odd fashion.

There is an electrical connector on the passenger side lower front of the transmission. The o-ring has been known to leak and the fluid can wick up to the TCU. You may wish to check that. The o-ring "part" is about $2 and there is an upgraded version that (allegedly) permanently corrects the problem.

Getatme78

Is it DIY ? Is it simple or complicated ?

Getatme78

Well I just got a read for the transmission problem and the code 130 came up which leads to the battery needing charge .. I'm going to charge it and ill let guys know my results ..