Kevin265

I live on a steep hill. When I am climbing it my car starts in 1st gear but will shift into 2nd and lug. If I push the accelerator it drops back to first and continues no problems. Is this a line pressure issue? Valve body? Solenoids? If someone can point me in the right direction I would be forever grateful.

rapidoxidation

What happens if you force it into first gear before starting out?

Kevin265

It stays in 1st.

Maroc_Specops

Valvebody electricals.
replace this.

cmriv

is the fluid level correct? If you're in comfort mode this may be normal. put it in sport mode and see what happens.

Kevin265

Level is correct. What is weird is my car doesn't have a sport mode. I was thinking I needed to replace the valve body. I just wanted confirmation. Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

kajtek1

Just to confirm we are sure about setting?
The transmission mode switch (next to gear shifter) can be confusing as it changed those years.
5-sp in W210 had W/S switch that changed to C/S in W211.
W=C= winter or comfort mode
S is for standard and lot of people confuse it for sport.

Kevin265

I have W/S. I'm in standard. My car is a W211. It's a 03. I thought when in winter mode the transmission starts in 2nd.

cmriv

that is correct. Try switching modes and see what occurs.

kajtek1

W starts on 2nd but if you floor it, it will kick override and downshift to 1st.
W also activates hill holding.

Kevin265

I did some driving using W and the shifts seemed really soft. I have however discovered a new symptom. When coasting if I stomp the gas I get a big lurch. Its like the stall on my T/C is way high. Once it engages its solid, clicks through the gears just fine. I also occasionally get a lurching at low speeds like the T/C isn't unlocking. My plan of action right now is to change the valve body and see if that takes care of the T/C problems too. If not a new T/C will be in order I think. I've checked the plug and it's dry so I know I don't have fluid climbing the harness. Oh, forgot to mention 200k miles on car. Thanks again everyone for the input.

bbirdwell

Put it on STAR and the transmission control unit will have the data on the health of the transmission sub-systems.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...rmination.html

Kevin265

You are right. But I love to throw parts at my car! Any tips on buying said software and cables?

kajtek1

You can buy legal scanner what will do everything on W211 for about $220
Swaben is 1 and tomorrow I am expecting another one to test.

Kevin265

So the ebay star tools I see are Illegal?

kajtek1

They are hacked clones with different buyers experience.
Some members have good luck to them and use them for years, some spend long time and money to make the system working, only to have it quit some time later, when seller vanishes from the Net.
My main issue for me is that hacked SD is user unfriendly, what with my lacks of software operation skills is not making me confident in buying. I spend money for earlier hacked scanner and that was money down the toilet.
The Schwaben 018657SCH01A was slow, but I had no problem to make it working on W211.
Did not have software for W212, but having legal scanner, you will get updates.
So legal manufactures are coming to good play.

Kevin265

My concern is I haven't had a check engine light come on so I don't know what a scanner is going to tell me. Thanks for the heads up on the ebay stuff.

rapidoxidation

transmission codes don't throw a check ENGINE light.

cmriv

actually yes they do....

cmriv

did you check fluid level on a level surface, engine running and fluid at operating temps?

Just because there isn't a cel being thrown doesn't mean there aren't codes.

are you able to consistently duplicate this? And does it only occur on steep inclines?

kajtek1

Yes, they do but not all of them and not right away.
Advance scanners have "health check" that scans whole car. Never had it run without popping whole list of codes.
That sun sensor that you never new existed, the seat that chocked once for PO, the door that loosed connection when somebody slam it 3 years ago.
Anyway, beside codes, scanner will give you live data and adaptation.
The $10 Bluetooth adapter with TorquePro gives me live data as well, but then I noticed some of them are out of proportion. There is no way I can have 1300 psi in my exhaust.
I just got another MB scanner and even it is annoyingly slow, it does have good options. Will report once I have more time to play with it.

kajtek1

double