ollie payne

hi guys iv jus started getting a strange whine from up high in the revs in 1st gear on the autoi box.. at least i think its the box.. can anyone help or adevise ???

RichardM98

Generally considered normal. A small amount of whine from the gears can come and go.

ollie payne

ok it has gone from bad to disasterous as i drove the car this evening and it was ok.. i turned it off and went into the shop.. as i drove home it seemed to go into neutral whilst going around a bend and would not drive past 30mph !!!! i stopped and put it into park, from then it would not select any gear !! i left the car off for 5 mins, started it and drove down the road only for the same thing to happen again less than a mile down the road !!!!! am i having gearbox issues or what could be the problem ?????

RichardM98

Sounds like the car is in 'limp home' mode. It's designed to protect the transmission from serious damage. You need to have the error codes for the transmission read with a MB SDS (Star Diagnostic System). Normally that's only available at a dealer.

ollie payne

why would the car go into limp home mode tho ?? and also if in lim p home mode why does it then seem to go into neutral and freewheel ?? im confused.. there is no dipstick for the box is there ??

RichardM98

Limp home mode occurs because the car's computer has decided there is something wrong with the transmission and to prevent further damage you can only use 2nd gear and reverse or last working forward gear and reverse.

Limp home mode doesn't mean there won't be symptoms of transmission failure.

There is a 'dipstick tool'. Looks like a dipstick but is about 8" too long. It is designed to adjust the fluid level correctly but not leave in place.

ollie payne

after speaking to 2 mechanics i have been assured that the gearbox is the problem and will probably have to be replaced.. how has this happened all of a sudden i ask myself.. i was hoping to sell but witht the prices i have been told to repair i wonder would i be beter to sell the avantgarde for scrap ???

ejsheltra

If rest of car is good then I would fix and drive it till it drops for good or the body starts to rust out. Newer car payments versus a repair. Need to decide based on quality of rest of vehicle. Best of luck.

ollie payne

the rest of the car is mechanically perfect.. rust isnt reeally a problem at the moment.. a small bit has appeared on both wing inners and under the side mouldings there is a touch but none of major concern.. so what would my best option be ?? replace the box with a second hand or to rebuild the original ??

edwinwalke

Has anyone (mechanic with proper diagnositics --MB software) tried to find out what the problem is. It may be something that is fixable without replacing the whole box.

ollie payne

i have to wait until he can collect the car with recovery truck this week so nobody has looked at it yet.. i started it this evening and as i gave it a small rev that strange whine is there even when in park !!
i think he has MB diagnostics if not he will take it to someone who has for me..

fingers crossed..

ollie payne

where is this dipstick tool ?????

RichardM98

It's considered a service tool so one isn't provided with the car. You can purchase them online or at a dealer. I think poster Ohlord also has one available.

MB Part No. is 140 989 15 22 00

ollie payne

thanks for your help much appreciated

illest

I would check the fuild level and check under the car for leaks around the pan and the electrical connector. Also you could check the box under the hood behind the duovalue and make sure there is not tranny fluid inside.

ollie payne

ok just to let ye know that the car has just been plugged into MB diagnostics by my mechanic and he has assured me that it is the gearbox selector that has gone, his father had identical probs and after replacing entire box he found the selector was at fault and not the box itself.. will be going away on recovery truck 1st thing monday morning thank god.. thanks for all of your help lads..