722.6 transmission woes. 97 e320 stuck in 3rd gear. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Turbo E320 · #1 12-07-2008, 04:47 PM

I was on the industrial park road and my transmission was being absolutely retarded. First gear launch was great but once it started shifting it seemed to slip or try to shift again. But if I did full power pulls in the individual gears they would be fine. On my last 0 to 60-70 tuning run the transmission clunked into 3rd gear after a eventful range of rpms in 2nd gear. I immeadiately stopped and went to go home to check the tranny. When I took off I could tell the transmissoin was obviously stuck in 3rd and it wouldnt shift up or down. The transmission isnt making any abnormal noises. I havent driven the car since.

Ever since I got the car the transmission was a little wierd. When it was cold the first gear shift wouldnt happen before 3000. If you are in summer mode and the car kicks down to speed up, the car will hold the gear for a long while after you are done speeding up unless you flip the switch to winter. The car has 53800 miles on it. I finally get my engine problems sorted and now this...

TMAllison · #2 12-07-2008, 05:16 PM

Sounds like its time to get the adaptation values read to find out what is maxed out.

Oracle12345 · #3 12-07-2008, 06:53 PM

Any codes?

Turbo E320 · #4 12-07-2008, 07:02 PM

No check lights but I'll grab the scanner from my mechanic tommorrow and check the DTCs.

TMAllison · #5 12-07-2008, 09:48 PM

If there was a code it ought to be in limp home mode (ie: 1st, 2nd and R only).

Turbo E320 · #6 12-07-2008, 10:06 PM

Would the car be any slower in LHM? If it is second then the car is incredibly sluggish off the line. I've heard there is a spring that collapses in the tranny that causes a situation like mine but if there arent DTCs then I guess I'll pop the pan off. If theres no metal in the pan then what?

whipplem104 · #7 12-07-2008, 10:11 PM

You are definitely in limp mode. The tcu will lock into the last known good gear if it detects a shift failure. If you slipped to much going into a gear this would happen. It is totally possible that with good traction and the power you are making that you are just overpowering the shift sequence.
The other things you are talking about are normal. The cold upshift delay is programmed for warming up the catalyst and the holding onto a gear after accelerating is normal also.
You should drain your transmission and remove the pan and filter and inspect for clutch material. Dirty looking fluid is not a problem but sooty material in the pan and filter and or large metal pieces is bad.

To get the trans to hold the high power shifts you may have to get a tune from somebody or run a standalone tcu like mine.

Turbo E320 · #8 12-08-2008, 12:48 AM

I was praying for your response

You are definately one of the more experienced 722.6 techs here

I will pop the pan off tommorrow and check for a cog or two at the bottom

I just hope the tranny was being a big softy and needs a slap in the head with a computer...btw how would I redo the shift hardness? Use the tcu from a e420?

I do have nearly 11 inches of tire in the rear(10.8) by calculation. It must be even more so when thecar is sitting on the ground so I must say when the tires do get warmed up the car is quite grippy, dangerously so.....Sorry if I sound a bit English just finished watching like 20 Top Gear episodes

Texholdem · #9 12-08-2008, 06:18 PM

Few days ago I experienced the first time what is supposed to be the limp home mode; after stopping at a STOP sign, the tranny suddenly slipped, would not engage and the car dragged along at 10 mph. It was 100 yards from my garage so I made it home. I checked and got no codes. Then the next day things went back to normal. I guess if it happened once it can happen again anytime. At the moment I am not confident of long distance driving until I have it checked.

Oracle12345 · #10 12-08-2008, 06:53 PM

I did look further in the problem and could be something that can be only fixed at the dealer.

Texholdem · #11 12-08-2008, 07:10 PM

Oracle,

have your replied to my post or to Turbo's

?

Oracle12345 · #12 12-08-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texholdem

Oracle,

have your replied to my post or to Turbo's

?

both actually, more towards turbo. but i can look into what could be causing your problem.

The tranny once its adapts should spit a code out. Your tranny may not have adapted yet. Without a code its hard to pinpoint what it could be. As for limphome mode, it will stay in that mode until fixed. limp home is can be caused by a lot of things and without code(s) I could point you in the wrong direction. So I would bring it to the dealer for proper diagnosis.

did you check the level of the ATF?

Turbo E320 · #13 12-08-2008, 08:49 PM

My tranny was working fine today, my dad drove the car around, but he said it seems to have trouble with down/upshifting decisions when you press on it. I have access to a 722.6 DVD that guides you to basically rebuilding/replacing everything. I will DIY anything and have on my e320. I have 100% fixed my car but since the car was at 100% for the first time in a while and the boost was turned up to 11psi the car had over 400rear wheel torque.

This just occured to me! When I had my engine lifted up in the last summer, a small amount of ATF leaked out of my rear seal. I had motor really jacked upwards and the transmission gapped off the output shaft just enough to leak out that small amount(lots of pressure from the driveshaft). It hasnt leaked ever since that oversight and I thought nothing of it when it happened. Although it might not be a significant amount for the problem, could it have caused a contamination?

Oracle12345 · #14 12-08-2008, 09:20 PM

try recreating the conditions when it occured. It may not have happened for your dad because the tranny adapted to his drving style. You may have to remind the tranny control module to your style.

Turbo E320 · #15 12-08-2008, 10:33 PM

I was hammering on the transmission when it got stuck in gear. Based on the info I have read, with over twice the rated torque in the engine and the lax adaptation from the 90 year old man who previously owned the car I guess the adaptation # would have been incredibly high and the transmission had too much slip. My dad has driven the car twice but I DD it. I granny around everyday except on friday or saturday. My transmission always seemed slower than other e320's when it came to shifting, was that result of the grocery getting ways of the previous owner and my slow daily driving 90% of the time?

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