[jctoomey]

I just found this forum this morning and already have collected some very good leads - Thanks!

I have had my '02 c230 for about a year and 10k miles, and since it was new I have had a rough shifting 1st to 2nd gear. I have read elsewhere in this forum of similar problems. MB replaced the transmission once and the gear shift linkage once and now tell me that MBUSA is aware of the problem and is looking for a solution - that answer, as many of you know, is not an acceptable solution for a chapped owner.

Has anyone been able to resolve this problem through their dealer and if so, what did they do to fix it.

Much appreciated...I am due for my 10k service and would like to hit them again, HARD, for a fix.

Ps. My sun roof just started making the same creaky noises that I have seen others reference here.

 

[Mark08859]

You seem to be unique in that your problem still persists. Most everyone else has commented that the shifter "loosened up" after 3 - 5 thousand miles. Keep us posted on MB's official response.

 

[komptuc]

SOLUTION!!!

I'm an engineer so I took a different approach to the problem. The C230 is a high compression 4 cyld. car, and I believe that when MB designed it, this was not observed as well as it should have been. I myself have had problems with the transmission. The best way that I find to get around this is to tap on the gas gently before shifting, this has been really helpful for me. You have to approach each shift with a bit more rpm, this helps in helping the trans. shift more smoothly. I have seen the problem more in first gear. Hope this helps.

 

[jctoomey]

Thanks...

Thanks to both folks who replied. I will try the rpm deal and see, but the last thing I really want to do is to have to think about shifting. I suppose after some time, it becomes second nature to rev a little before going into gear. I am still going to being ramming the issue down the dealer's throat for a resolution, though.

 

[mctwin2kman]

OF the two 2003's I have driven I have not seen the problem. Mine goes fine into first when stopped and even when going at a very low speed when slowing down. So it seems they fixed it on the newer ones, but it does not slip in all sloppy it is still tight. I like it that way, as it seems the way it shoudl be instead of sloppy. Second goes in just like butter. They should also be able to adjust the linkage as well to fix it. I have heard that helps on other forums.

 

[malahhaor]

My car has over 9k miles on it and I still have the problem, I feel like i'm braking something every time i push it in to the first. I have to force it in to first, a bit easier in to second, all other gears are no problem.
I also found that if I shift in to second then first, it goes in easily most of the time, or just tap a little in to second and then in to first it goes in smooth.

 

[zygote]

What a relief!!! I'm not alone with this problem.

Mine is coming up for 1 year old and 24K miles and 1st to 2nd is still notchy. If there is an official MB solution to this please share!! :wink:

 

[jctoomey]

No Resolution!

My car went in for its Schedule A maintenance last week. They fixed the squeeky sun roof, but, BIG SHOCKER, could not confirm any problem with the shifting from 1st to 2nd.


I give up...I think I will be looking for another car...

Thanks again to those suffer similar fates.

 

[monymony]

I know there is something about the car not allowing you to shift into a gear if the rpm is not right (this is to stop you from downshifting from fifth to first by mistake I guess) so my best guess with the shifting problem would be that it is an rpm related thing. I know I can't shift the car into first if it is already moving and the same goes for reverse. If the car is perfectly still it shifts into first or reverse like a dream.

 

[jctoomey]

shift problem...

My problems aren't related to road speed. I understand those limitations. My problem is only related to shifting between 1st and 2nd. The shift is more difficult in the winter and when the car has sat for some time (esp. in the cold). Other times, it slips right in.

??????

 

[beats1234]

i found this

Something I noticed in the 6 speed - sometimes the shifting is rough depending on RPMs (and sometimes for no reason at all!) but an observation I made is that if a shift feels like it's going to be rough when you've started to move the shifter, apply just the right amount of pressure (but not into gear) turn off your radio and listen. There is a really high pitched sound which gets really high very fast and the shift becomes easy. Try it, I'd really like to know what that means. Anyway, It's like a whistle spinning type sound that gets really fast. I dunno, if you try it you'll hear it. But what is it?

 

[taralon]

Just going off that last post, where it is mentioned that you can hear/feel the problem when you begin to shift, I'd say the problem is in the synchros. If I'm not mistaken MB uses what is now pretty much the industry standard for the 1-2 synch, that being a paper based material. If the synchs were not properly quality controlled, they could be either under or over sized, or of a material that doesn't have a great enough density to spin the gears up to/down to the right speed fast enough. Oversized but correct density synchs would 'wear in' after a while, where undersized or incorrect density synchs (too soft mainly) would never really 'soften' up on the shift. Also, having correct lubrication for the paper material synch is especially important during cold shifts, and having too thick/not enough tranny lube will make shifts incredibly harsh when cold, mostly because if the RPM isn't exactly right and the gear stacks are completely lubed, then you don't get an easy shift. Personally, I'd probably request that MB replace the tranny fluid the next time you take it in and see if that helps, sometimes it will, sometimes it won't.