03 E55 goin into limp mode while driving
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 40
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From: Northern VA
E55 AMG
03 E55 goin into limp mode while driving
Hey guys, maybe someone can point me in the right direction here.....and here is an issue I'm facing: I'm driving down the highway at 55-60mph, and say for a few seconds I get froggy on the gas- taking the car, in Sport mode- up to about 90-100 mph, and after passing someone I let off the gas. The car proceeds to shift hard, then jerk slightly and the engine stays on, revving like it is at idle, but the trans. won't engage a gear and I have to pullover, cycle the key and issue goes away. Any ideas? I'm thinking conductor plate, but no CEL, and no way to justify throwing parts at it. Car has 50K on it, and always serviced on time.
Last edited by socali.luv; Sep 4, 2009 at 08:19 PM.
Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 238
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From: ca
2003 s600
my car does the same thing, goes to neutral arter wot and letting off gas. I used to slow down to 30mph and drive would come back mysteriously but now it is like yours, have to turn car off then on and is normal again. Someone else on sl55 forum i think had this prob and dealer replaced valve body and tcu or shifter control unit, not sure which but solved the problem. I thought i was overloading trany b/c i have kleemann k2 ecu and tcu tuned.
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04 - 06 e55 Wagon - looking for
Had this experience before on a different chassis however. The problem mysteriously went away after it was taken to the dealer two separate times for the same incident within a week. My recommendation:
When this happens, go to the dealer and ask the SE to get in the car with you so he can see hear and experience it. Because, if the computer 'doesn't throw a code' you are beat until it happens again. This is dangerous and I hope it gets taken care of. Good Luck.
When this happens, go to the dealer and ask the SE to get in the car with you so he can see hear and experience it. Because, if the computer 'doesn't throw a code' you are beat until it happens again. This is dangerous and I hope it gets taken care of. Good Luck.
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
You may need to data log your car separately to try to get a more involved answer. Either way, this is a very dangerous symptom and should be taken care of as soon as possible. Good luck 
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 40
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From: Northern VA
E55 AMG
Found codes stored for wheel speed sensor y3- the sensor in the trans. electrical plate- so plate, trans filter, gasket, connector, pilot bushing and a couple of bg flushes are being performed to alleviate the problem. For future reference, stored codes were also present for improbable gear ratios- which is a symptom of the valve body going, but due to the electrical plate internally malfunctioning, I'm starting with the cheaper of the 2. I'm also servicing the rear diff while it's in the shop. I want to drain it again in a few months to monitor the fluid and diff life- any suggestions on the best fluid for our rear diffs aside from BG?
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Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: ca
2003 s600
I had those codes in the past too, just erased them and never came back, but still have the dropping into neutral often with no codes thrown. I do have a P2318 that is current and stored. I think that is the gear shifter module going out, says ESM has a problem communicating with CAN bus.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 40
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From: Northern VA
E55 AMG
After extensive driving city/highway, problem has been resolved and I couldn't be happier. We noted fluid in the electrical connector upon replacement, but with the replacement of the electrical plate and flushing the trans (whose fluid looked exactly like diesel oil), car shifts perfect and no slipping or erratic shifts were noted. Thanks for the input for those who responded.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Northern VA
E55 AMG
the electric plate ran me about $190 +labor, the trans kit (filter, gasket, connector, lock pin, pilot bushing, and fluid) w/BG flush cost me $250. And no I didn't need a valve body. The valve bodies and trans. on the 55AMGs are solid and bullitproof- they only have issues with the electronics, the plate being this times culprit. Understand also that there is a wheelspeed sensor in the electric plate and after replacement, car was happy to know what speed it was traveling for proper gear selection
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
'12 E550 AWD
My car is doing this right now.
Because of this issue, I just had the transmission fully rebuilt with some updates. The first time I floored it after the rebuild. Same exact problem.
I found this post and called my trans guy and he said that he did replace that electro plate connector.
My opinion is that it is trying to shift to 1st gear. Because when it shifts it feels like it starts to lock up the back tires, but then goes instantly into limp mode.
My temporary fix is to floor it up to speed, then shift the car into neutral for a few seconds then bump the gas pedal and shift back into drive. This will work for temporary until I FIND the PROBLEM.
This makes me want to cry really. Just bought the car with 95k, and my SC idler pulley destroyed itself, trans limp mode issue, and the passenger side midrange speaker cuts in and out, all started after I got to Michigan (home) from Florida where I purchased the car.
Because of this issue, I just had the transmission fully rebuilt with some updates. The first time I floored it after the rebuild. Same exact problem.
I found this post and called my trans guy and he said that he did replace that electro plate connector.My opinion is that it is trying to shift to 1st gear. Because when it shifts it feels like it starts to lock up the back tires, but then goes instantly into limp mode.
My temporary fix is to floor it up to speed, then shift the car into neutral for a few seconds then bump the gas pedal and shift back into drive. This will work for temporary until I FIND the PROBLEM.
This makes me want to cry really. Just bought the car with 95k, and my SC idler pulley destroyed itself, trans limp mode issue, and the passenger side midrange speaker cuts in and out, all started after I got to Michigan (home) from Florida where I purchased the car.
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3-five-five/ TUNDRA/ 07 997 cab
My car is doing this right now.
Because of this issue, I just had the transmission fully rebuilt with some updates. The first time I floored it after the rebuild. Same exact problem. I found this post and called my trans guy and he said that he did replace that electro plate connector.
My opinion is that it is trying to shift to 1st gear. Because when it shifts it feels like it starts to lock up the back tires, but then goes instantly into limp mode.
My temporary fix is to floor it up to speed, then shift the car into neutral for a few seconds then bump the gas pedal and shift back into drive. This will work for temporary until I FIND the PROBLEM.
This makes me want to cry really. Just bought the car with 95k, and my SC idler pulley destroyed itself, trans limp mode issue, and the passenger side midrange speaker cuts in and out, all started after I got to Michigan (home) from Florida where I purchased the car.
Because of this issue, I just had the transmission fully rebuilt with some updates. The first time I floored it after the rebuild. Same exact problem.
I found this post and called my trans guy and he said that he did replace that electro plate connector.My opinion is that it is trying to shift to 1st gear. Because when it shifts it feels like it starts to lock up the back tires, but then goes instantly into limp mode.
My temporary fix is to floor it up to speed, then shift the car into neutral for a few seconds then bump the gas pedal and shift back into drive. This will work for temporary until I FIND the PROBLEM.
This makes me want to cry really. Just bought the car with 95k, and my SC idler pulley destroyed itself, trans limp mode issue, and the passenger side midrange speaker cuts in and out, all started after I got to Michigan (home) from Florida where I purchased the car.
