Fred,

York County PA here. Not far from Susquehanna.. I had the same issue last December. I had left it out and it was 9 degrees when I went to start it, which was fine, but like you even after warming it a bit it was having problems shifting from first. It finally shifted down the road aways, and didnt pitch a CEL. Usually if its going into LIMP mode it RPMS wont go over 1000 and it will stay in 1st gear. It might have been coincidence with the CEL and hard shifting. I think with these electronic transmissions it might have been a stuck solenoid causing the bad shifting.

Also, I have purchased the fan clutch tools, if you ever need to borrow them let me know, its much easier to remove the fan clutch with the proper tools. I just did a waterpump on mine. I also have the MB DVD, but if you can I would purchase a subscription to AllData.com it has paid for itself a few times already

__________________
Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD