Last summer I had the transmission pan replaced. I put the car in storage in the autumn and after it sat in the same spot for a while I noticed some trans. fluid on the floor. Just before I put it in storage, it intermittently would refuse to go into 1st gear. Of course, now that it's in storage and can't be started up easily, I can't check the fluid level, which needs to be done with the car warm. My working theory is that fluid had been leaking ever since the pan was changed, and that this somehow caused the reluctance to go into 1st gear, and I'm hoping that addressing the leak and topping it off will cure the 1st gear issue. Am I dreaming?
-
Hi Guest !
Welcome to the 500Eboard forum.
Since its founding in late 2008, 500Eboard has become the leading resource on the Internet for all things related to the Mercedes-Benz 500E and E500. In recent years, we have also expanded to include the 400E and E420 models, which are directly related to the 500E/E500.
We invite you to browse and take advantage of the information and resources here on the site. If you find helpful information, please register for full membership, and you'll find even more resources available. Feel free to ask questions, and make liberal use of the "Search" function to find answers.
We hope you will become an active contributor to the community!
Sincerely,
500Eboard Management
Low tran fluid = no 1st gear?
- Thread starter Prime
- Start date
If I recall correctly, the only real issue I had when my atf fluid was nearly gone (!) was harsh shifts (especially up), often with a clunk sound. It did shift down into 1st, I think.
Also, having these gearboxes low on oil is quite dangerous - I experienced that first-hand. (Had the complete rebuild done a while back)
Also, having these gearboxes low on oil is quite dangerous - I experienced that first-hand. (Had the complete rebuild done a while back)
Could you elaborate on the problem? Do you mean that it would start in 2nd gear ok but wouldn't go into 1st, or do you mean that the car wouldn't move forward at all?
Slightly low fluid level (just under "MIN" mark on dipstick when hot) on my 500E resulted in hanging up on WOT 1-2 upshifts. When my E420 was about a quart low, it would not shift out of 1st gear, making for a very slow, high-rpm journey home...
Slightly low fluid level (just under "MIN" mark on dipstick when hot) on my 500E resulted in hanging up on WOT 1-2 upshifts. When my E420 was about a quart low, it would not shift out of 1st gear, making for a very slow, high-rpm journey home...
It would start in 2nd gear as normal and drive perfectly normally, but if I tried to drop it into 1st by either kickdown or the shifter, it would stay in 2nd. It would still upshift normally into 3rd, etc. but would not ever drop into 1st gear no matter what I did. Linkage adjustment, maybe?
Weird. That doesn't sound like an adjustment... only thing I can think of is the kickdown solenoid/switch is not working. What happens if you nail the throttle (WOT) from a stop? Normally this will drop it into 1st gear. When it comes out of storage you'll have to check it again.
Not correct. Nailing from a stop will cause a downshift from 2 to 1 based on the Bowden cable signal, but it will take ~1 second for this to occur. If you use the "B" switch on the shifter, it will start in 1st without a downshift, but only if the kickdown solenoid is functioning. There is no way to "prevent" it going to 1st gear when you're into the throttle heavily from a stop, i.e. more than approx 50-60%.
What's not correct? It would not go into 1st, even at full throttle from a stop. I understand this is not normal - that's why I'm asking about it.
So you're saying that if it's the kickdown solenoid, choosing "B" on the shifter would not get me 1st gear, but it would still kick down upon full throttle? This was not happening - it wouldn't go into 1st with either the shifter or full throttle.
So you're saying that if it's the kickdown solenoid, choosing "B" on the shifter would not get me 1st gear, but it would still kick down upon full throttle? This was not happening - it wouldn't go into 1st with either the shifter or full throttle.
OH, sorry, I misunderstood... I thought you meant that a full-throttle start would normally still be in 2nd gear, i.e. that's how the factory designed it, this is not correct. Now I see that you were describing what your car is doing - my bad!
Yes, if the kickdown solenoid circuit is not working (could be a number of reasons why), you will not get a 1st gear start (from a stop, at light throttle) in the "B" position on the shifter. However it should still drop to 1st gear at full throttle from a stop even if the kickdown solenoid is not working, regardless of shifter position or kickdown solenoid.
When will you be able to get the car out of storage & do some more testing?
Yes, if the kickdown solenoid circuit is not working (could be a number of reasons why), you will not get a 1st gear start (from a stop, at light throttle) in the "B" position on the shifter. However it should still drop to 1st gear at full throttle from a stop even if the kickdown solenoid is not working, regardless of shifter position or kickdown solenoid.
When will you be able to get the car out of storage & do some more testing?
No worries, Dave.
Unfortunately, it seems that winter has just now arrived here in Chicago - I could have been driving the car all through December and January, with the warm temps and absence of snow! But now it's finally gotten a bit colder and we're seeing a little of the white stuff - and by that I mean the salt on the roads! I probably won't be getting it out of storage until early April.
Unfortunately, it seems that winter has just now arrived here in Chicago - I could have been driving the car all through December and January, with the warm temps and absence of snow! But now it's finally gotten a bit colder and we're seeing a little of the white stuff - and by that I mean the salt on the roads! I probably won't be getting it out of storage until early April.
