Peaches,

I need some help here! I just bought this car about 4 weeks ago...drove just fine the first 2-3 weeks, shifted fine through all gears/speeds/rpms etc in both S & W mode as well as manual shift.

The first sign of trouble was when I accelerated heavily to make a light, the car down shifted as it should and sped up but then as I let off the gas the car hopped into nuetral...(shifter was still in drive), I put the car into nuetral and back into drive, but the car remained in nuetral, the car just revved when I pressed the gas. I then stopped the car and put it into park and then tried reverse, nothing. Next I turned the car off and back on and the problem seem to correct itself.

I then drove the car 800 miles from Florida and the car drove just fine most of the way back. The only trouble I had was when I stopped for gas and was making a turn out of the gas station and pressed heavy on the accelerator the car went into "limp home mode", that is it only allowed me to be in gears 1,2 and Reverse. I had to stop, shut the car off and back on to correct the problem and drove the rest of the way home with no issue.

This morning the issue repeated itself, the car went into limp home mode. I was even pressing very hard on the accelerator on my way home from work. It seems to happen when accelerating between 0-20mph. The check engine light also came on this morning, it hadn't come on the previous few times.

It sounds like a bad sensor or black box somewhere maybe, I really hope its not the transmission? Please help!?

Thanks,

Curt

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'66 250S (SOLD)
'72 250C (SOLD)
'92 190E 2.3 (SOLD)
'02 C320 Wagon (SOLD)
'04 S40 (SOLD)
'99 535i (Euro Spec)

Like any computer controlled system...there will be codes in the trans computer as well as codes from the engine.

Reading those codes will help with diagnosis.

ALSO has the fluid been changed??

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I have not changed the transmission fluid and im not sure wheather the previous owner had it changed.

__________________


'66 250S (SOLD)
'72 250C (SOLD)
'92 190E 2.3 (SOLD)
'02 C320 Wagon (SOLD)
'04 S40 (SOLD)
'99 535i (Euro Spec)

Dear MBDoc,

I recently purchased a used 2005 MB c320 4Matic which I've done the following maintainence on w/ a qualified MB mechanic:

oil service
transmission + transfer case fluid change
rear brake pads
valve cover gaskets

6/30, on way to mechanic, car went into limp mode, I stopped and restarted car and it went away. I notice a rear brake failure on the dash readout. Later that evening, I failed inspection for rear brake pressure.
When driving the car, the brakes feel and operate fine.

7/1 My wife calls me to tell me that it occurred to her. I take it to the mechanic and the computer mentions the ESP. The manual says the ESP is related to the traction control. My mechanic wants to put my car online to an expert with the computer system.

What do you think?

David