PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - Transmission not changing gears after startup

Vehicle:
99 ML320
156,250 mi.
Chassis # 1631541A113603
Manufacture date: 04/99

Problem:
Intermittently will not change gears. i.e. after startup, it will remain in 1st gear and not shift up at all. Turning the motor off, then restarting seems to temporarily remedy the problem because then it shifts normally for the duration of the drive. Sometimes the transmission will get stuck in a higher gear and not downshift. The problem is occurs intermittently immediately after startup. This happened on occasionsionly in the past, but now it is more frequent.

I think since it is remedied by turning car off and then on again, I am thinking more along the lines of an electronic or problematic sensor issue.

There is a fluid leak, which I just noticed. The source is somewhat deceiving. I will be checking later to see if it is transmission fluid, and could be perhaps the source of the “stuck in gear” problem.

I found some discussion about the ECU and “adaptive data”. I will bring it to the dealer also to get a diagnostic.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Scott