[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

Hey Guys:
Hope you're well & cool.
Hot day today we had 105.

So w210 wagon does sudden limp mode on the wife today.

Limited to 1st or maybe 2nd gear 25mph was very high revs.
She takes side roads to safe spot.

I meet her & scan codes using Foxwell NT530.

No codes at all for Tranny / Powertrain.

She had been doing in town stop & go driving.

Engine cools somewhat while scanning & we start up fine - shifts as normal !

Very glad but baffled.

Battery is aging & I've tried to 'condition' it by 2amp charges most nights.

If voltage is fluctuating could that cause limp mode, but no stored codes ?

I did check voltage:
Resting 12.7
Running 14.1
While Crank 10.0
For AGM battery of unknown age.

Appreciate your input !

David in Texas

 

[Deplore]

Check transmission connector, or pilot bushing.

 

[mrboca]

Check all modules for fault codes, not just transmission controller. If you had an undervoltage condition, you would have had a fault code at least from one of the modules (like the Instrument Cluster, or the Electronic Ignition Module, or the Traction Module).

 

[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

Ok, I did have an undervolt reading just 1 now.
Had several earlier on before I began charging regimen.
Now battery is more stable.

I just did a close visual inspection of connector & saw no leaks 100% dry.

Every oil change or 3 months I do that.

Does 10 volts when cranking engine sound about right ?

I wonder if wife could have bumped gear shifter sideways twice that might be what happened shed be in lower gear perhaps w/o knowing it !?

Thx David

Appreciate your input

 

[mrboca]

10 Volts is just fine when cranking. The modules want to see a minimum of 11V when the ignition key is in position 2 (engine running or not running) . During cranking, the voltage related codes are suppressed.

The ATF contamination either, or both sides of the harness connectors most likely give rise to a fault code, as something is either open or shorted, which is the detected and reported by the TCM.

Next time it happens (hopefully it will not), ask your wife to look at the gear indication on the dash (show her where it is and what to expect to read, and what readings mean) if she does not see a "D" while the gear is supposed to be in "D", then it could be a fault with the shifter touchshift spring mechanism (apart from accidental shifting down).

 

[khomer2]

Ok, I did have an undervolt reading just 1 now.
Had several earlier on before I began charging regimen.
Now battery is more stable.
.....

Does 10 volts when cranking engine sound about right ?

I wonder if wife could have bumped gear shifter sideways twice that might be what happened shed be in lower gear perhaps w/o knowing it !?

Thx David

Appreciate your input

Correct.

Bumping it to manual mode? humm, I dont think that would do it.

 

[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

Ok thanks great info.

Wife knows how shifter works & didn't bump it.

I will ck asap for leaky 13 piin connector.

2 days hasn't done it again....

We're having a heat wave with 110+ temps I think it exacerbates electric faults on our aging rigs !

On my ML for example the BAS / ESP module has been having issues due to underhood heat....

 

[tabijan]

For grins, check the TCM for ATF even if the connector at the transmission is dry. Set the TCM connectors end down in a pan while you have lunch or pop off the case for a look.

Sixto
98 E320 wagon 197K miles

 

[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

Good idea Sixto.

Please remind me on our w210 where is TCM ?

 

[khomer2]

Good idea Sixto.

Please remind me on our w210 where is TCM ?

Where is the Transmission Control Module - TCM - located...

I have searched forum to no avail. I want to take a look at it now that I replaced my leaking connector plug on tranny today. I thought it was in the engine compartment where the engine control module is located but apparently it's not there - even though I don't know what it looks like. Cheers.

www.benzworld.org

In the stickies too.

David, hope you and family are all good (and coping with the heatwave too).

 

[260e crusier]

I wonder if wife could have bumped gear shifter sideways twice that might be what happened she be in lower gear perhaps w/o knowing it !?

One time while I was driving my W203, my wife accidently bumped the shift lever (it's a small car) and the transmission went down several gears. I didn't see her do it and it took a long moment before I realized what happened.

Also found out you don't have to bump the shifter more than once to go down more than one gear!
A long bump or hold of the shifter to the left can easily put you down several gears up to the rev limit.

 

[tabijan]

One time while I was driving my W203, my wife accidently bumped the shift lever (it's a small car) and the transmission went down several gears. I didn't see her do it and it took a long moment before I realized what happened.

Also found out you don't have to bump the shifter more than once to go down more than one gear!
A long bump or hold of the shifter to the left can easily put you down several gears up to the rev limit.

BTDT. Wifey set her purse against the 203 shift lever while on the freeway. I thought it was in limp mode.

Sixto
98 E320 wagon 197K miles

 

[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

Hey you three:

I'll look at that "Stickie" on TCM location.

With you on the 'wife hits gear shift with purse'
(better that than our head, right ?)
And your doing a Jackie Stewart instantly....lol.

In her case she said "I know that so I bumped shifter to Right for upshift & no change + dash indicator was on 1 or 2" even then..."

It sounds like really did it / not accidental or imagined.

I will read that TCM stickie & inspect.

Thanks !

PS Khomer - ML500 is Fixed - PTL - see my updated thread & YouTube video on w163 Thread

 

[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

Where is the Transmission Control Module - TCM - located...

I have searched forum to no avail. I want to take a look at it now that I replaced my leaking connector plug on tranny today. I thought it was in the engine compartment where the engine control module is located but apparently it's not there - even though I don't know what it looks like. Cheers.

www.benzworld.org

In the stickies too.

David, hope you and family are all good (and coping with the heatwave too).

Ok Khomer, got it it's in Electrical box underhood passenger side, firewall.

Box is crammed full of stuff.

Which is the TCM and how to remove & inspect for ATF presence ?

Regards - David

 

[khomer2]

Ok Khomer, got it it's in Electrical box underhood passenger side, firewall.

Box is crammed full of stuff.

Which is the TCM and how to remove & inspect for ATF presence ?

Regards - David

This should help you out - photos still there too. (in my bookmarks for the w210) -
post#5

My attempt at replacing the transmission plug.

This afternoon I went ahead and changed out my transmission harness plug/ connector, the how to's that are around for this are pretty good but I was still not sure going into it how to remove it so I decided to snap some pics of the process. What the underside looked like, when I first jacked...

www.benzworld.org

Inside the black control module box, beside the ESP-BAS unit -a small black module w/ 2 connectors on it, in the white sticker (might have on it "EGS.."<===> the TCU, remove the 2 connectors. The TCM module pops up quite easy. Inspect.

 

[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

Khomer, et al:

Thanks so much. Yes we're fine. Hope y'all are as well in the GWN.

Texas is 100% open - almost nobody sick - hospital nearby just closed doors - it's a mystery why so many are masked.

Maybe because they believe the "lying Media' ?

Same people who believe their car dealer is telling the truth !?

I'm for Freedom. If they want to go crazy - by all means they can go.

Just don't expect me to follow ! Not a sheeple - never have been, never will be.

The Gospel parable that observes the people are 'like sheep gone astray' - that wasn't a compliment on human nature ! It's easy to miss that. It's a 'descriptive observation' but not a 'prescriptive' one !

But yeah, thanks for letting me blow off some steam. I feel better now - Rant over.

Thanks I will check out that thread & inspect module shortly.

Sounds about the same as me pulling the BAS / ESP module on the w163, eh ?

David

 

[khomer2]

Khomer, et al:

Thanks so much. Yes we're fine. Hope y'all are as well in the GWN......

I'm for Freedom. If they want to go crazy - by all means they can go.

Just don't expect me to follow ! Not a sheeple - never have been, never will be.

The Gospel parable that observes the people are 'like sheep gone astray' - that wasn't a compliment on human nature ! It's easy to miss that. It's a 'descriptive observation' but not a 'prescriptive' one !

But yeah, thanks for letting me blow off some steam. I feel better now - Rant over.

Thanks I will check out that thread & inspect module shortly.

Sounds about the same as me pulling the BAS / ESP module on the w163, eh ?

David

Always good to blow off steam now and then (on forums vs. LWB is best)
Stay well and safe Brother.

 

[260e crusier]

Going to throw gasoline on the fire..............

Many people have died for your freedom. Many will die because people choose to exercise their freedom. I wear a mask because it's a very small sacrifice for me to make for the good of this great country.

Trying not to be blasphemous, but aren't people following the Gospel sheeps?

 

[raymond-]

starting a covid discussion is like tossing a match to gas fumes so let's not go there. just don't. thank you

 

[2000 E 320 White Wagon]

starting a covid discussion is like tossing a match to gas fumes so let's not go there. just don't. thank you

Just a momentary foray Raymond...

Thanks for Grace !