W210 Transmission shifts weird at times.
 

So, i just wanted to get an opinion on this issue. In the morning when it have to get to work the temp outside has been around 5 degrees Fahrenheit. When i pull out of the driveway the transmission has a hard time shifting out of 1st gear. it usually revs ups pretty high if i accelerate quickly and wont shift. After the first shift it starts to sift like it should without any problems. I wonder if the cold is causing something, or something weird with the vacuum. any ideas?

Maybe there is a bit of moisture in the system. When was the last time the trans fluid was changed?

Vacuum modulators were used on the mechanically controlled models but not on the electronic ones. The W210 used both types (they switched over sometime around 1997). If yours is a 98 or 99 then it is electronic. Earlier could be either. Find out which one you have and let us know. You can enter your VIN here and it will tell you:

http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

Basic things need to be checked - fluid level being one, but if you have the electronic model you can have it scanned or try resetting the adaptation codes and seeing if that helps.

All four of our Benzes (92, 2x97, 98) are slow to shift for the first quarter mile when it's super cold. Switch to the winter setting and it will start out in 2nd. A delayed initial shift is normal. Don't worry about it, check the fluid level per others.

+1.... The tranny will hold gears longer when cold, until things get to a comfortable temp for the engine & tranny computers...

I also just start in 2nd gear in the winter.

its a 96, i will just try to flush the fluid, and then start in 2nd gear.

Don't have it "flushed" just drain and refill the fluid and replace the filter. You should also drain the torque convertor. The fluid yours uses is the cheap DexIII so the whole job should be done for well under $200 including labor, even at the dealership and if DIY could do it for under $50 in parts and fluids. I believe the service interval on that transmission is 30K miles so you are probably due anyway.


The condition you describe, while not uncommon is not normal so I would not confuse those two terms. I would bet that fresh fluid and a new filter will help.

The transmission has an upshift delay feature. The shift threshold is higher when the engine is cold. This is done to bring the catalytic converter up to operating temperature faster than otherwise.

I haven't noticed one of these hold 1st gear all that long, but it will hold 2nd until about 4,000RPM no matter how gently you accelerate. The colder the day, the longer time/distance it will take the engine to reach the temperature at which the upshift delay is disabled. I think it switches off when the coolant reaches 40C.

Delayed shift out of 1st may just be a function of the cold engine. The transmission shift point is determined by how far down you push the accelerator. A cold engine makes less power than one at operating temperature. (Diesels are really noticable, gasoline engines less so.) You may simply be pushing farther on the gas pedal to get the expected acceleration, resulting in the transmission holding gears until higher RPM. Make an effort to drive it gently when cold, and see what it does.