S Class transmission problem
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Joined: Jun 2010
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1994 S500
S Class transmission problem
I have a 1994 S500. Recently, the transmission will not shift out of 1st or 2nd gear when first started in the morning. After a mile or so it starts working fine and is great for the rest of the day. Fluid is full, pink, and clear. Any ideas?
Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 78
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From: Between Honolulu and Offutt.
1998 and 2002 SL 500, 2014 E550 Convertible
Say what?
I think not.
Once you turn the engine on, it should be ready to roll!
Even in frozen Alaska!
If not, then you obviously have a transmission problem; low fluid which means a leak, clutches/gears are worn, etc. could be sensors, could be....
you need a transmission tech to diagnosis the problem.
I think not.
Once you turn the engine on, it should be ready to roll!
Even in frozen Alaska!
If not, then you obviously have a transmission problem; low fluid which means a leak, clutches/gears are worn, etc. could be sensors, could be....
you need a transmission tech to diagnosis the problem.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Mesa, AZ
2011 E350 Bluetec, 1996 S320 & 2006 E320 CDI Sold to my son & 2017 GMC 2500 Diesel Pick up
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,866
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From: NorCal
99' SL500, 16' i3, 14' Passat TDI SEL
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 6
From: NorCal
99' SL500, 16' i3, 14' Passat TDI SEL
Oh and take the transmission off of 'S' mode... it will start off from 1st gear instead of 2nd, and im sure thats not that comfortable in the morning either. your car is supposed to be a cruiser, not a speed boat.
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Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 78
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From: Between Honolulu and Offutt.
1998 and 2002 SL 500, 2014 E550 Convertible
I spoke with the "main man" transmission tech at the MB dealership today and I also went in person and spoke with three shops who specialize in MB transmissions....
I showed them the responses on this site...re: fluid needing to warm up, etc....
I am told...does not need to. If the fluid needs to warm up...transmission problem. When the car was new...it did not need to warm up...when the original owner first took the car out for a test drive...it did not need to warm up...when the owner had the car for a few months and has been driving it daily...it did not need to warm up....(on my 92 SEL which I have had for many many many many years....in Alaska, Montana or Minnesota in the frozen winter....car starts right up and drives/shifts with no problems) I have had 13 Benz's over the years and never had one that needed to warm up before driving off. Maybe it is a characteristic of your particular car or even a few others....but I do not not believe that any car maker builds a car that has to wait till it warms up before the tranny shifts!
If that is the case...it is a transmission problem...or about to become a tranny problem.
I have as do you, many friends who own Benz's..and they don't have to wait for the transmission to warm up before driving off.
What problem? Could be fluid, steel, gears, filter, sensors, etc....but when you start the car and shift into gear...it should move immediately.
I showed them the responses on this site...re: fluid needing to warm up, etc....
I am told...does not need to. If the fluid needs to warm up...transmission problem. When the car was new...it did not need to warm up...when the original owner first took the car out for a test drive...it did not need to warm up...when the owner had the car for a few months and has been driving it daily...it did not need to warm up....(on my 92 SEL which I have had for many many many many years....in Alaska, Montana or Minnesota in the frozen winter....car starts right up and drives/shifts with no problems) I have had 13 Benz's over the years and never had one that needed to warm up before driving off. Maybe it is a characteristic of your particular car or even a few others....but I do not not believe that any car maker builds a car that has to wait till it warms up before the tranny shifts!
If that is the case...it is a transmission problem...or about to become a tranny problem.
I have as do you, many friends who own Benz's..and they don't have to wait for the transmission to warm up before driving off.
What problem? Could be fluid, steel, gears, filter, sensors, etc....but when you start the car and shift into gear...it should move immediately.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,866
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From: NorCal
99' SL500, 16' i3, 14' Passat TDI SEL
Alright. well take the car to your main man and pay him a rediculous amount of money to fix a problem that doesnt matter.
My s320 has been this way since 1997, which coincidentally is the year it was first sold.
My CLK55 which is unfriendly to me for the first 2-3 miles untill it heats up, then it revs to wherever i want it, whenever and the transmission was fine. Although it is prone to visiting the stealership more than being parked in the garage.
My mom had an M5 that had warning lights suggesting keeping the revs down untill it...wait for it..wait for it...Heated up. but what does BMW know?
My 1997 s600 tries to stay in 1st and 2nd gear when its cold in the mornings. Maybe i should take it to your mechanic and have him replace a non-broken relay or something.
Take it from me. its normal. honest. you dont even have to pay me for it.
but hey, ill buy your 'broken' car from you for bottom dollar if you really need to get rid of the car because of this issue.
My s320 has been this way since 1997, which coincidentally is the year it was first sold.
My CLK55 which is unfriendly to me for the first 2-3 miles untill it heats up, then it revs to wherever i want it, whenever and the transmission was fine. Although it is prone to visiting the stealership more than being parked in the garage.
My mom had an M5 that had warning lights suggesting keeping the revs down untill it...wait for it..wait for it...Heated up. but what does BMW know?
My 1997 s600 tries to stay in 1st and 2nd gear when its cold in the mornings. Maybe i should take it to your mechanic and have him replace a non-broken relay or something.
Take it from me. its normal. honest. you dont even have to pay me for it.
but hey, ill buy your 'broken' car from you for bottom dollar if you really need to get rid of the car because of this issue.
Member
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Phoenix, AZ
400E
A better description of "will not shift out of 1st or 2nd gear" could help to end this chaos and mayhem. For example, if it doesn't ever shift out of first gear how would you know it doesn't shift out of second gear?
Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 78
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From: Between Honolulu and Offutt.
1998 and 2002 SL 500, 2014 E550 Convertible
All I know is this and it's simple enough that even an elementary school student can understand......
you go ahead and test drive or buy a new Benz in Alaska, Canada, Europe, Minnesota in the dead of winter when it's 10 below or more....you get into that Benz, start it up and IMMEDIATELY put it into gear, it WILL move!
I've got a 19 year old 500 SEL that I have driven in Anchorage when it was 20 below zero...(active duty military stationed for 2 years in Alaska) and not once did the car not move when started and immediately shift into gear after sitting overnight or 2/3/4 days in a row sitting. And the same with my 2005 CL55 AMG....starts right up and when I put it into gear...it moves immediately when it 20 below or 90 plus.
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From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
My W140 delay a bit when I first start the car. I mean delay from first gear to second. It hits 3000rpm before changing the gear. Once the car is warm, it shift around 2500rpm. But today my mechanic told me that the transm. slip.
It will last until it last... maybe 6 months to 1 year... Cost to rebuild $2200 !!! Anybody have rebuid this transm before ? how much cost approx ?
It will last until it last... maybe 6 months to 1 year... Cost to rebuild $2200 !!! Anybody have rebuid this transm before ? how much cost approx ?
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
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S320
My W140 delay a bit when I first start the car. I mean delay from first gear to second. It hits 3000rpm before changing the gear. Once the car is warm, it shift around 2500rpm. But today my mechanic told me that the transm. slip.
It will last until it last... maybe 6 months to 1 year... Cost to rebuild $2200 !!! Anybody have rebuid this transm before ? how much cost approx ?
It will last until it last... maybe 6 months to 1 year... Cost to rebuild $2200 !!! Anybody have rebuid this transm before ? how much cost approx ?
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 22
From: USA
10 speed bicycle
Say what?
I think not.
Once you turn the engine on, it should be ready to roll!
Even in frozen Alaska!
If not, then you obviously have a transmission problem; low fluid which means a leak, clutches/gears are worn, etc. could be sensors, could be....
you need a transmission tech to diagnosis the problem.
I think not.
Once you turn the engine on, it should be ready to roll!
Even in frozen Alaska!
If not, then you obviously have a transmission problem; low fluid which means a leak, clutches/gears are worn, etc. could be sensors, could be....
you need a transmission tech to diagnosis the problem.
Last edited by MBtech1098; Aug 20, 2010 at 05:47 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 22
From: USA
10 speed bicycle
Are you sure this is a recent problem that you have not noticed before? I would recommend letting an experienced MB tech drive your car to determine if it is abnormal.
