How can I tell for sure if my transmission is going through all five gears
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX.
1998 e320 4matic
How can I tell for sure if my transmission is going through all five gears
I've been having a hard time telling whether or not fifth gear is engaging. A couple months ago when the freeway was clear at night I was able to take the thing up to 123 no problem. I didn't even realize I was going that fast until I looked down at the speedometer. The car didn't vibrate or shut her at all. It was smooth it was quiet it was fast. Now I was trying to gun it down the freeway and today I noticed that pushing up towards 100 it seemed like it might have been struggling a little bit. I'm wondering if I'm no longer shifting into 5th gear because I've heard that sometimes is a problem with these cars but I don't know how to tell for sure. What kind of code reader can I hook up to see the gears changing if any? Where should I start troubleshooting? Sorry if there is already a more relevant sticky for this. I looked but I did not see anything.
Member
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 178
Likes: 45
2000 E320
Shift it manually? Can it be that easy?
How fast your car goes, it all depending on condition the car is/are in, such as ambient temperature, road condition, uphill, downhill, flat road, etc etc.............................
Lastly, scan your car. Make sure you don't have any code, such as bad coil or trans problem.
How fast your car goes, it all depending on condition the car is/are in, such as ambient temperature, road condition, uphill, downhill, flat road, etc etc.............................
Lastly, scan your car. Make sure you don't have any code, such as bad coil or trans problem.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX.
1998 e320 4matic
Shift it manually? Can it be that easy?
How fast your car goes, it all depending on condition the car is/are in, such as ambient temperature, road condition, uphill, downhill, flat road, etc etc.............................
Lastly, scan your car. Make sure you don't have any code, such as bad coil or trans problem.
How fast your car goes, it all depending on condition the car is/are in, such as ambient temperature, road condition, uphill, downhill, flat road, etc etc.............................
Lastly, scan your car. Make sure you don't have any code, such as bad coil or trans problem.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
The RPMs aren't gospel (if I remember correctly) because it varies depending on engine temperature. e.g. the transmission logic keeps the revs high(er) when the engine is cold as this helps warm the engine a little quicker when it is first started. But I think if you induce a FIRM acceleration from a standing start the RPM will drop (uhm, I'm guessing) 500 rpm-ish each time the auto shifting occurs.
Another reason why providing a definite RPM number per gear isn't realistic is that the adaptive transmission varies depending on the driving habit of each driver. It will 'adapt' and shift at lower RPMs for lead footers ....and shift at a higher RPM for grandmothers (and me).
Another reason why providing a definite RPM number per gear isn't realistic is that the adaptive transmission varies depending on the driving habit of each driver. It will 'adapt' and shift at lower RPMs for lead footers ....and shift at a higher RPM for grandmothers (and me).
