possible transmission/engine problem (?)
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: The Earth
Mercedes all the way!
possible transmission/engine problem (?)
Hi all, well, this is for a friend who just got a second hand W220 S280 LWB. the car was a year 2000 model (horror!) and a low spec at that (double horror!). anyway...
the problem is that when he accelerates pedal to the metal, the engine seems to refuse revving any faster than 4000rpm. it's as if the car wants to shift gears and so is activating the clutch (or whatever it is on an auto), but it won't upshift. or as if it hit the redline although it's just at 4000rpm, but can't upshift. i've tested the car and it indeed does this. especially when the speed is around 80km/h.
but when i nudge the gearlever to the right (upshift), the gearbox shifts, the revs drop back down to 3000rpm, and the car accelerates smoothly as if nothing happened. also, if i depress the accelerator only halfway, the engine can rev to the redline with no problem at all.
i haven't tested it out in every single gear yet (and i'm not sure what gear it was in when this happened) but has anyone got this problem before? and what was it about?
the car's beautiful but this phenomena makes it difficult to overtake without manually shifting - and we all know we're not supposed to upshift halfway through overtaking someone :p
the problem is that when he accelerates pedal to the metal, the engine seems to refuse revving any faster than 4000rpm. it's as if the car wants to shift gears and so is activating the clutch (or whatever it is on an auto), but it won't upshift. or as if it hit the redline although it's just at 4000rpm, but can't upshift. i've tested the car and it indeed does this. especially when the speed is around 80km/h.
but when i nudge the gearlever to the right (upshift), the gearbox shifts, the revs drop back down to 3000rpm, and the car accelerates smoothly as if nothing happened. also, if i depress the accelerator only halfway, the engine can rev to the redline with no problem at all.
i haven't tested it out in every single gear yet (and i'm not sure what gear it was in when this happened) but has anyone got this problem before? and what was it about?
the car's beautiful but this phenomena makes it difficult to overtake without manually shifting - and we all know we're not supposed to upshift halfway through overtaking someone :p
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: The Earth
Mercedes all the way!
erm, jz to add to the above post, i read on these forums (using the Search feature) that the Life Time Fluid used in the transmission may be a problem, and so may the Harmonic Balancer and Tension Belt (?). in fact the car does vibrate a little bit when accelerating - now that it was mentioned, i start noticing it.
any idea where and how to replace these parts? what brand of transmission fluid is usaeble on the W220? i live nowhere near any dealership, so it's gonna have to be done by a general mechanic.
hah, i told my friend to get a facelifted version but he won't listen.. poor guy :p
again, thanks for the help!
any idea where and how to replace these parts? what brand of transmission fluid is usaeble on the W220? i live nowhere near any dealership, so it's gonna have to be done by a general mechanic.
hah, i told my friend to get a facelifted version but he won't listen.. poor guy :p
again, thanks for the help!
