CLK tranny oil
 

Hi Techs...

I know this sounds very subjective, but, I've noticed that the center console often gets very warm. On one trip the cup holder was being used and the opening felt like a heater outlet, no joke! This was a night trip with ambient temp around 75 degrees.

The trouble is that this doesn't happen all the time! Of course now I'm listening for tranny noise, whines or other sounds. While I think I may be hearing some whining sound, it's certainly not excessive and the shifting is completely normal. The car has only 12K miles and I do not believe the dealer inspects this fluid since it is sealed at the factory. Could I be low on tranny oil or differential oil?

I doubt that you are low on fluid. If the car gets low on oil or tranny fluid, it will generate codes that will set a code on the instrument cluster.

Donnie,

Let me understand your advice, if the transmission or differential oil were below normal, I will see a malfunction light indicated at startup?

I see no such malfunction indication, is there a log readout that the dealer can access which will say for sure? I believe the fluid fill plug is sealed or at least marked, can it easily be checked or is this a dealer only service?

This heating problem seem unusual, the shift knob shaft is very hot to the touch. Any ideas if this is normal on the CLK? The ML does not feel hot, warm sometimes but not hot like the Cab.