190e tranny woes
 

Hello all,
Has anyone experienced what seems to be a tranny engaging too slowly? Sometimes the car takes off nice and quick and sometimes it is sluggish off the line. I thought I'd change the fluid out but maybe it needs a complete service (is there anything adjustable?) I don't know. What do you all think who have had experience with something like this. The car is an 89 190e with the 2.6 with 170,000 mi.
Thanks to all in advance.

Have you had your 190E long? This sounds like normal behavior. If you are DEAD stopped, the car should start in 1st gear. If you are moving slightly, it will start in 2nd gear, and will not downshift automatically. This peculiar behavior is by design, and is so indicated in the manual. If yours is the 2.3 8V, starting in 2nd is pretty leisurely.

You can start in 1st by shifting to that gear first, but you will then manually have to shift up.

Steve

Steve,
It drives fine and does do that weird thing where first gear acts more like a granny gear on a truck. It just feels like sometimes there is power and sometimes theres not. Maybe it isnt my transmisson but something with the injectors? I've had it for about two years. No problems really

Opossum,

You might want to try a can of BG44K fuel system cleaner. It restored the "performance" in my 190E. ;)

Jeff

Opossum, make a note of your rpm vs. road speed next time it takes off feeling peppy - before it shifts. Note the same next time it takes off sluggishly. I bet you'll find rpms much less for the same road speed - i.e. you're in second gear.

Note too, if you shift into the lowest gear while you're in motion, it won't shift into 1st. If you do so while stopped, it will shift into first - and stay there.

Steve

thanks steve,

Will do. That very well could be and I just never noticed it. I think I will change the fluid out anyway as it cant hurt, right?