SL/R231: gear slipping
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 7
From: New York
E450 coupe 2021 SL550 2013
gear slipping
Check engine light came on. thought it was the gas cap after filling and re-secured it. light out for a while then after went on again later in the day. i had felt a slight skip when gears changed on starting from stop (first gear to second?) once but nothing while driving steady. several error codes on reader including cam shaft sensor error. transmission fluid down a quart, replaced, reset errors but appeared again a day later with same gear slip. flushed transmission fluid changed filter and o-rings. reset codes. a few hours later same gear slip, check engine light on, cam shaft sensor error.
i wonder if this is an electrical issue since the gears are shifted electrically.
if any one can help its much appreciated. thanks.
i wonder if this is an electrical issue since the gears are shifted electrically.
if any one can help its much appreciated. thanks.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 7
From: New York
E450 coupe 2021 SL550 2013
Just for future reference: changed the cam shaft sensors and checked the voltage; they were broken and were replaced but that didn't fix the problem. after their failure oil apparently is wicked up into the wiring shorting it out, and if that is ultimately wicked into the computer then it has to be replaced. luckily new wiring fixed the problem, or at least seems to have done so.
timing of cams is apparently related to shift of gears. who knew? not me.
timing of cams is apparently related to shift of gears. who knew? not me.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 936
From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
Glad you found he problem. You did not receive any answers because this is not something many of us have heard of on this forum. Keep on posting! 
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 660
Likes: 300
From: Franklin, TN
2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
Mind sharing the mileage when this occurred? And are you the original owner?
Thanks in advance, sorry to learn of the issue, appreciate the sharing of information.
Thanks in advance, sorry to learn of the issue, appreciate the sharing of information.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 349
Likes: 56
From: Massachusetts
1986 560SL, 2017 E300, 2018 Sl550, 2020 E350
1309w
As you are one of R231 owners with maybe the highest mileage wondering if your car is ABC equipped?
If it is have you had any issues with the ABC systems/components?
Have you changed fluid and filters and if so when?
ALSO....any other issues other than the cam sensors?
THANKS for any replies.
As you are one of R231 owners with maybe the highest mileage wondering if your car is ABC equipped?
If it is have you had any issues with the ABC systems/components?
Have you changed fluid and filters and if so when?
ALSO....any other issues other than the cam sensors?
THANKS for any replies.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 7
From: New York
E450 coupe 2021 SL550 2013
No ABC. all regular maintenance as recommended. i drive about 20k a year mostly highway, some city. i had two previous SL s 2005 and 2007 or so both cpo. the ABC failed on the 2005 out of warranty and cost a fortune to fix so i didn't want ABC on my next car. that one died at about 85 k when someone t-boned it. the 2007 although a few years old when i bought it only had 7k on the odometer so i took it with the ABC. the transmission failed in the mid 40s but was under warranty and fixed free. it went to pasture at about 85k because i was worried about it having some catastrophic event out of warranty and the one i have now was available. this car has been pretty reliable without major issues until this year. an electrical relay failed and the dealer took a lot of trial and error to figure it out see here: https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...won-t-run.html. the front wheel bearings wore out this year and they were replaced. the driveshaft flexible disk dried out and was replaced. most of the rubber ductwork in the engine area was replaced. some of the interior silver trim has peeled from the steering wheel but that was easy to replace and inexpensive. i've also had a lot of tires and rims destroyed by the potholes around ny and nj with the 19" wheels and next car will get a smaller rim radius to increase the rubber cushion. also the rubber door seals are drying out and will need to be replaced at some point.
since replacement of wiring and cam sensors shifting is a little less smooth but not so bad that it matters.
since replacement of wiring and cam sensors shifting is a little less smooth but not so bad that it matters.
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