Stuck in first gear
07-02-2011, 05:07 PM
#1
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E350
Stuck in first gear
Hi,
I'm new here. Sorry if this thread has been posted before but I figure I speak on my own problems.
2006 e350. Bought used. Less than 1/2 a year driving it, my tranny started giving me issues. No check engine light. But the usual case of restarting would reset it back to normal. NOW it is stuck in 1st gear and check engine light on.
It will stay only in 1st gear and I do not want to drive it pass 30mph.
Going to see a specialist Monday or Tuesday but can anyone chime in on cost and repair?
And how long it generally takes to fix. Worried :/
I'm new here. Sorry if this thread has been posted before but I figure I speak on my own problems.
2006 e350. Bought used. Less than 1/2 a year driving it, my tranny started giving me issues. No check engine light. But the usual case of restarting would reset it back to normal. NOW it is stuck in 1st gear and check engine light on.
It will stay only in 1st gear and I do not want to drive it pass 30mph.
Going to see a specialist Monday or Tuesday but can anyone chime in on cost and repair?
And how long it generally takes to fix. Worried :/
Last edited by Laney; 07-03-2011 at 02:05 PM.
07-03-2011, 10:34 AM
#3
Sounds like the car is in "limp" mode. That is the computer has determined there is a serious problem and has essentially shut down the car. Depending on how far you are from a dealer, you may be able to drive it, but I would have it towed (flatbed) to them and let them diagnose the problem. It may be simple and inexpensive, but serious enough for the computer to think that you should not drive it.
Second, depending on the problem and the solution, you should seriously consider having the transmission flushed and new transmission fluid installed. The transmission fluid should be changed around 30k miles (some may tell you it is "lifetime" IMHO no trans fluid is lifetime), many have gone further without harm but it is cheaper to change the fluid than replace a $8,000 transmission.
Good Luck
Second, depending on the problem and the solution, you should seriously consider having the transmission flushed and new transmission fluid installed. The transmission fluid should be changed around 30k miles (some may tell you it is "lifetime" IMHO no trans fluid is lifetime), many have gone further without harm but it is cheaper to change the fluid than replace a $8,000 transmission.
Good Luck
07-03-2011, 02:12 PM
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E350
Thanks for the responses. It's definitely drivable but not recommended over 30 because any higher I can start to hear my engine working hard. My bf n brother in law are mechanics but unfortunately not MB mechanics. They both looked at it and did research and believe it's a piece that needs to be replaced and not tranny which is great news. But always more comforting to hear others that can relate too. I'm glad I've seen reports on google with the same issue but wonder why it hasnt been recalled by MB :/
06-06-2012, 04:57 PM
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C300. FJ Cruiser, 370Z
Trending Topics
06-06-2012, 09:02 PM
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2004 E320 4matic Sedan
The battery and transmission are not directly related....
I presume that the aux battery failed and as a result the car went into limp mode, including locking the transmission in a low gear. A dead battery does not directly harm the transmission.
06-08-2012, 04:21 PM
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2004 E320 4matic Sedan
Some speculation....
So, in the interests of safety, it would make sense for the car to put itself into a slow mode, including putting the transmission into limp-home mode, thereby forcing you to do something about the aux battery to restore a state of braking system electrical redundancy. (think about aeroplane engines. You can run with one engine on a twin-engined aircraft, but you should usually divert to the nearest suitable field in the event of an engine failure and address the problem before you have both engines out.)
But I wouldn't know. This is just speculation and may be imputing MB with thinking they never had.
06-11-2012, 01:24 PM
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2004 E320 4matic Sedan
Instant Carma
If the Aux battery is a backup to ensure SBC braking, and that Aux battery has failed, it implies that the braking system has lost electrical redundancy. i.e. an additional failure of the main battery would then cause the SBC to fail and you would be reliant on the pretty poor hydraulic backup system only.
So, in the interests of safety, it would make sense for the car to put itself into a slow mode, including putting the transmission into limp-home mode, thereby forcing you to do something about the aux battery to restore a state of braking system electrical redundancy. (think about aeroplane engines. You can run with one engine on a twin-engined aircraft, but you should usually divert to the nearest suitable field in the event of an engine failure and address the problem before you have both engines out.)
But I wouldn't know. This is just speculation and may be imputing MB with thinking they never had.
So, in the interests of safety, it would make sense for the car to put itself into a slow mode, including putting the transmission into limp-home mode, thereby forcing you to do something about the aux battery to restore a state of braking system electrical redundancy. (think about aeroplane engines. You can run with one engine on a twin-engined aircraft, but you should usually divert to the nearest suitable field in the event of an engine failure and address the problem before you have both engines out.)
But I wouldn't know. This is just speculation and may be imputing MB with thinking they never had.
Well, I posted the above on Friday and today I got the battery "Visit Workshop" in red message. (Maybe if I post to a forum that's about winning lotto, then on Wednesday I'll win lotto? Does it work like that?)
It's a 2003 E320 and I have no clue when the batteries were last changed. 120K miles, so I hope the alternator is OK.
I'm off to test the Aux battery this afternoon, I suppose. I'll start with changing that and then cross my fingers. I have no fancy alternator test-equipment, just my trusty multimeter and battery charger.
07-05-2012, 10:09 AM
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Mercedes Benz ML 350
2003 ML 350, vehicle will not shift gears, stuck in first gear.
Well, I posted the above on Friday and today I got the battery "Visit Workshop" in red message. (Maybe if I post to a forum that's about winning lotto, then on Wednesday I'll win lotto? Does it work like that?)
It's a 2003 E320 and I have no clue when the batteries were last changed. 120K miles, so I hope the alternator is OK.
I'm off to test the Aux battery this afternoon, I suppose. I'll start with changing that and then cross my fingers. I have no fancy alternator test-equipment, just my trusty multimeter and battery charger.
It's a 2003 E320 and I have no clue when the batteries were last changed. 120K miles, so I hope the alternator is OK.
I'm off to test the Aux battery this afternoon, I suppose. I'll start with changing that and then cross my fingers. I have no fancy alternator test-equipment, just my trusty multimeter and battery charger.
I have the same situation with my 2003 ML 350 SUV, stuck in first gear. I had a problem with erratic gear shifting some years ago just at 50K miles and had to really twist the dealers arm to get the vehicle repaired. It had an extended warrenty but they said this issue was not covered!! Finally got them to cover 50% of the costs as it was mostly labor, no parts as i recall. Total bill was about $1200 after about 4 days.
Now its back at 140K. Worse this time, it started to do some erratic things like stayng in nuetral, then after turning the motor off and restarting it would be Ok for a while then get stuck in 2nd , 3rd , or 4th at random times, sometimes days apart. Now it wont shift into the sport mode. From the other member posts sounds like it has gone into "limp mode"
Did the aux battery resolve the your problem? Where is this aux battery located, in the engine compartment or somewhere else on the car? Any help would be much appreciated.
07-05-2012, 10:13 AM
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Mercedes Benz ML 350
2003 ML 350 stuck in 1st
Hi
I have the same situation with my 2003 ML 350 SUV, stuck in first gear. I had a problem with erratic gear shifting some years ago just at 50K miles and had to really twist the dealers arm to get the vehicle repaired. It had an extended warrenty but they said this issue was not covered!! Finally got them to cover 50% of the costs as it was mostly labor, no parts as i recall. Total bill was about $1200 after about 4 days.
Now its back at 140K. Worse this time, it started to do some erratic things like stayng in nuetral, then after turning the motor off and restarting it would be Ok for a while then get stuck in 2nd , 3rd , or 4th at random times, sometimes days apart. Now it wont shift into the sport mode. From the other member posts sounds like it has gone into "limp mode"
Did the aux battery resolve the your problem? Where is this aux battery located, in the engine compartment or somewhere else on the car? Any help would be much appreciated.
I have the same situation with my 2003 ML 350 SUV, stuck in first gear. I had a problem with erratic gear shifting some years ago just at 50K miles and had to really twist the dealers arm to get the vehicle repaired. It had an extended warrenty but they said this issue was not covered!! Finally got them to cover 50% of the costs as it was mostly labor, no parts as i recall. Total bill was about $1200 after about 4 days.
Now its back at 140K. Worse this time, it started to do some erratic things like stayng in nuetral, then after turning the motor off and restarting it would be Ok for a while then get stuck in 2nd , 3rd , or 4th at random times, sometimes days apart. Now it wont shift into the sport mode. From the other member posts sounds like it has gone into "limp mode"
Did the aux battery resolve the your problem? Where is this aux battery located, in the engine compartment or somewhere else on the car? Any help would be much appreciated.
07-05-2012, 07:36 PM
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2004 E320 4matic Sedan
sorry, not quite the same problem as mine
Hi
I have the same situation with my 2003 ML 350 SUV, stuck in first gear. I had a problem with erratic gear shifting some years ago just at 50K miles and had to really twist the dealers arm to get the vehicle repaired. It had an extended warrenty but they said this issue was not covered!! Finally got them to cover 50% of the costs as it was mostly labor, no parts as i recall. Total bill was about $1200 after about 4 days.
Now its back at 140K. Worse this time, it started to do some erratic things like stayng in nuetral, then after turning the motor off and restarting it would be Ok for a while then get stuck in 2nd , 3rd , or 4th at random times, sometimes days apart. Now it wont shift into the sport mode. From the other member posts sounds like it has gone into "limp mode"
Did the aux battery resolve the your problem? Where is this aux battery located, in the engine compartment or somewhere else on the car? Any help would be much appreciated.
I have the same situation with my 2003 ML 350 SUV, stuck in first gear. I had a problem with erratic gear shifting some years ago just at 50K miles and had to really twist the dealers arm to get the vehicle repaired. It had an extended warrenty but they said this issue was not covered!! Finally got them to cover 50% of the costs as it was mostly labor, no parts as i recall. Total bill was about $1200 after about 4 days.
Now its back at 140K. Worse this time, it started to do some erratic things like stayng in nuetral, then after turning the motor off and restarting it would be Ok for a while then get stuck in 2nd , 3rd , or 4th at random times, sometimes days apart. Now it wont shift into the sport mode. From the other member posts sounds like it has gone into "limp mode"
Did the aux battery resolve the your problem? Where is this aux battery located, in the engine compartment or somewhere else on the car? Any help would be much appreciated.
My problem was confined to the battery. I had no transmission problem. The aux battery on an 2004 E320 is in the front next to the engine. The ML series of cars did not have the same electric braking system. I would not be surprised if they have no aux battery at all.
07-17-2012, 10:55 AM
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Mercedes Benz ML 350
My previous thread regarding ML 350 stuck in gear.
Hi all
just to close the loop here is the resolution to my issue. After getting some advice from a MB mechanic on just answer i decided to send the vehicle in to an MB dealer to have the repairs done. Drove the vehicle 50 miles in limp mode (not above 28mph) to the dealership.
They carried out the inspection and came up with a damaged conductor plate and an error code on the control module., recommended replacing the conductor plate first and the checking to see if the control module error would clear. After the conductor plate was repaired and system reprogrammed (at a cost of $980.00) all errors were cleared and the vehicle is runnung great now. In fact, better than it has ever run and shifting through the gears crisply since the 80k repairs. Drove it 600 miles to Canada 4 days after the repair and no problems so far.
just to close the loop here is the resolution to my issue. After getting some advice from a MB mechanic on just answer i decided to send the vehicle in to an MB dealer to have the repairs done. Drove the vehicle 50 miles in limp mode (not above 28mph) to the dealership.
They carried out the inspection and came up with a damaged conductor plate and an error code on the control module., recommended replacing the conductor plate first and the checking to see if the control module error would clear. After the conductor plate was repaired and system reprogrammed (at a cost of $980.00) all errors were cleared and the vehicle is runnung great now. In fact, better than it has ever run and shifting through the gears crisply since the 80k repairs. Drove it 600 miles to Canada 4 days after the repair and no problems so far.
If you are asking me....
My problem was confined to the battery. I had no transmission problem. The aux battery on an 2004 E320 is in the front next to the engine. The ML series of cars did not have the same electric braking system. I would not be surprised if they have no aux battery at all.
My problem was confined to the battery. I had no transmission problem. The aux battery on an 2004 E320 is in the front next to the engine. The ML series of cars did not have the same electric braking system. I would not be surprised if they have no aux battery at all.
04-18-2013, 11:15 PM
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E500 Sport
Limph mode
Hello Sir i would like to ask you a question. You said your problem was just a Aux Battery. Has that fixed the problem. Mine is in limp mode as we speak. And i have had the aux red light on for about 3 months and have been meaning to change it. I hope this is my problem. Did you have any other lights to come on such as Battery, ABS, and ESP malfunction on the dash? or did your steering become tight?
04-19-2013, 09:05 AM
#21
Out Of Control!!
04-19-2013, 01:10 PM
#23
MBWorld Fanatic!
Are you sure you are referencing the correct Aux battery? My understanding was that it wasn't even on the same circuit as the regular battery and I doubt there are any connections, relays, or other relation to the transmission. As a lot have stated it is for SBC...
06-30-2013, 03:50 PM
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2004 E320 Mercedes
I have the same prob on my 2004 E320/ The check engine light is on and cannot shift out of first. Had aux battery replaced two weeks so does anyone have any ideas. Also cannot change the S?/C mode on the console either. Yikes
06-30-2013, 06:18 PM
#25
Out Of Control!!
PS: if the fault comes up a P07XX
then you have a issue with the transmission and will require a factory or equal scan, that will cost some money!!
