Great site!

I bought my car - a 1997 c280 - a month ago. It only has 49k kms (30k miles). I've driven it with the gear selector on position "4" for 3 weeks (mostly on highways for about 500 - 700 miles) until I read the owner's manual a few days ago. During those 3 weeks, the transmission would once in a while make a single almost inaudible "clunk" when downshifting from 2nd to 1st. Otherwise, it operates smoothly. Now, after realizing my error and driving it on "D", it doesn't make the noise any more.

Did driving on "4" cause the problem, which is now solved, or is it the beginning of the dreaded 722.6 transmission problems?



TIA

Probably no big deal except for the wasted gas from running the higher RPMs. There were software upgrades for the early model 722.6 trannys that resolved the clunk on downshift. If your car has not had the uprgraded controller installed, that may be your problem. My car has the old control unit in it and clunks on downshift too, but has been doing so for 129,000 miles and no problems otherwise.

__________________
Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

Phew! Thanks Ali, this is good news.

__________________
Jean

97 C280, 36k miles
96 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 146k miles