I have a 94 E-420 that has recently begun to have irrattic shifting problems. The shifts are unusually hard at times and at other times it flares between gears. The symtoms seem to have come on ratherly quickly. I have checked the vacuum lines as best I can, no problem there. I seems to me to be a vacuum modulator type of symptom. Any ideas before I take it in to a shop? I'm afraid that a shop will tell me it needs a tranny overhaul when it may be something minor. The car has about 106000 miles and has been the best auto I have ever owned. If the tranny is going out I may trade the car off since an overhaul is sooo expensive.

Try this first...

I had similar problems on my 86 300E. The transmission was flaring badly. First I would check the fluid level. Do it correctly...on a flat surface & car running. It may be as simple as a low fluid level.

If the fluid level is o.k. then try to change the transmission filter. From what I've read on this forum, this will usually clear the problem up. If it doesn't then you'll have to search for other possible causes ie. modulator, etc. If you can't find any, then you may have "bite the bullet" & have the transmission rebuilt.

In my case, I did all of the above. It bought me some time, but eventually transmission had to be rebuilt.

Good luck,

jrmd01@yahoo.com

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JR
1986 Gold 300E 4Dr automatic

I would think that it's the vacuum modulator. Mine had some weird shifting problems so I adjusted the modulator and it fixed things. Change the fluid and filter then try adjusting the modulator and if it still shifts hard replace the modulator, the trasmission shouldn't even be close to getting bad.

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1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E
2002 Mercedes-Benz ML500

I just edited my note. My car has 106000 miles, not 10600. Big difference. Sorry, now what do you think?

Yeah that's what I figured. Still the miles are to low for any trouble. My car 152k and shifts fine. Always try the little things first then move on to the large ones.

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1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E
2002 Mercedes-Benz ML500