I just bought an '01 CLK55 and love the car, with one exception. During anything other than spirited acceleration, the car seems to hesitate briefly as it upshifts, almost as if it cuts out for a split second. I've only put maybe 20 miles on the car (it has 9k total), so I'm sure it hasn't "learned" my driving habits. Does this sound normal, or should I take the car in and have it evaluated? Thanks.

Ronnie

I have noticed a similar slight hesitation. Drove it for 3,000 miles so far and it was like that from 0 miles.

Perhaps its indigenous to the awesome CLK 55 power?

That trait is completely normal. What you are hearing is the ME control unit retarding the timing briefly during upshifts. This reduces the power for a fraction of a second, which not only smoothes out the shift, but also saves wear and tear on the transmission and drivetrain. It almost sounds like a manual-transmission shift, albeit one very thats very smooth. Every new Benz does this, but it's most noticeable on the V6 and V8-equipped vehicles.

Thanks guys. Now I can go back to salivating over the Kleemann s/c or something.

Ronnie

It almost sounds like a manual-transmission
shift, albeit one very thats very smooth. Every new Benz does this...
_____________________________________________

Two issues for MBtech:

1. You mention "sound" - I don't hear a noise.

2. You say every "new" Benz - when will the hesitation disappear? Ronnie has 9,000 miles, I have 3,000.

I had three 2001 SL 500s - never any hesitation.

Would appreciate your comments.

Many tnx

Karl K

Try turning traction control off, that took care of the hesitation for me. I read somewhere that during shifts the computer takes a conservative approach to avoid wheelspin etc. during downshifts. Turning it off will give you quicker, more predictable shifts.

My2cnts,

Michael P

My First post:

I notice the same thing but, it's more then "a fraction of a second". It seems like it has to complete the shift then it turns the power to the ignition back on. Even worse, sometimes it's as though I had hit the "rev-limiter" and it has to shift to get out of the red to re-apply power? It's much more the a "fraction of a second".
Anyone else expand on this, it's rather odd?

Before I saw this thread I had thought of posting to see if anyone else had the same problem and if there were any aftermarket products to cure this "tranny" problem? mbtech208 may be correct but, it's definitly more then a fraction of a second. It seems strange to me that they would put so much performance in to a car then "disable" it between shifts?

My 01 does exactly the same under "normal" or slow acceleration, but is fine during quicker acceleration.