[CrossT]

My 97 E420 with 158k on the odometer has issues shifting normally/smoothly when cold. Works fine when it warms up. By cold I mean Arizona cold not Green Bay cold. The shifting is a little jerky primarily for the 1-2 upshift and surges a bit until warm. I've started placing it in winter mode to avoid 1st until it warms up.

I am also wondering if the issue is maybe related to the e-throttle, but that is an electronic device and so doesn't warm up like the transmission does.

The fluid is correct and recent [less than 2k miles]. I haven't checked the level too recently though and plan to do that when I get home from work this evening. That's 18 miles traffic so it ought to be warmed up to 80c. I'll check the temp with my IR thermometer and see where it is level wise.

Odd? Common?

thanks

 

[Musikmann]

That is common for my car. It is said that the car has a designed slow 1-2 shift to warm up the catalytic converters more quickly. Mine became smoother after the transmission service but since you just had yours done, that's won't happen. It won't hurt to check the fluid level. Maybe the surge is abnormal though.

 

[CrossT]

Fluid is very low. At operating temp, it just barely touches the bottom of the dipstick tool. What's the difference in fluid qty from the bottom of the tool to the 80c operating range?
thx
todd
97 e420

 

[tirona]

if at operating temp fluid barely touches dipstick than you are low by at least 1 liter. but make sure you are inserting the dipstick tool all the way to the bottom, sometimes you think you have it all the way in, but actually it;s not. so check it 2-3 times. also do you have the car running and tranny in park (p) on leveled surface when you checked it?
if you checked it correctly and fluid barely touches the bottom of dipstick tube then i would add 1 bottle, get fluid to 80C and then check again and fill til you have it close to max level at 80C on dipstick. also make sure you don't have a leak, check around connector plug or cooling lines.

 

[Check Codes]

You must have a leak. Don't drive it, hopefully you haven't done any serious damage. Get some fluid at the dealer, get 2L. If you have the actual dipstick you can use the cold range for the initial fill, then warm it up.

IIRC 53mm is low end of 80c range, but do a search, pics and specs are posted re the dipstick.

 

[Rat2]

My 97 E420 with 158k on the odometer has issues shifting normally/smoothly when cold. Works fine when it warms up. By cold I mean Arizona cold not Green Bay cold. The shifting is a little jerky primarily for the 1-2 upshift and surges a bit until warm. I've started placing it in winter mode to avoid 1st until it warms up.

I am also wondering if the issue is maybe related to the e-throttle, but that is an electronic device and so doesn't warm up like the transmission does.

The fluid is correct and recent [less than 2k miles]. I haven't checked the level too recently though and plan to do that when I get home from work this evening. That's 18 miles traffic so it ought to be warmed up to 80c. I'll check the temp with my IR thermometer and see where it is level wise.

Odd? Common?

thanks

we got an arctic blast here in Texas and my e-420 also shifted roughly on the coldest morning, i was in Winter mode and it happened only once but the shift from 2 to 3 was strange.

no problem whatsoever since then though...

 

[CrossT]

I had a half lt left from my trans service a year ago. Dropped it in this morning. Shifts great now, even cold. Still low though so I need to get another lt and recheck. The issue may be a leak [don't know], but a year ago I had all the fluid exchanged by an MB indie [8-9 lt]. Then I had the pressure regulating spring replaced by another indie to fix a 2-3 upshift slipping prob, which that fixed. There was some loss in that operation which the shop suggested I follow up on - I apparently forgot to. I expect it was low from that service. I've been driving around for a couple k miles now pretty low on fluid.

thanks
todd
97 e420

 

[CrossT]

Greg's on the mark; there is a leak. I put 1.5 lt in at it is just half way up the stick [between 25c and 80c ranges]. ATF on the floor . . .

Is there a common leak point I should start looking at?

thx
todd
97 e420

 

[atif7x7]

Greg's on the mark; there is a leak. I put 1.5 lt in at it is just half way up the stick [between 25c and 80c ranges]. ATF on the floor . . .

Is there a common leak point I should start looking at?

thx
todd
97 e420

ETC connector. Common problem. Thats where I would start looking. If it is the connector, then you are in luck as the part is cheap and swapping it out is relatively simple DIY. Hopefully thats all there is to it and you are good to go. Keep us informed.