Car is Merc CLK 320, W209, on a 02 plate with 104,000 miles on it.

At last service my independant merc specialist told me that the auto gearbox oil needed changing, so i made a mental note to get it done soon.

The car was displaying no symptoms whatsoever of any gearbox problems

But i didn't want to ignore the advise so I had it done last week, and since then have had a variety of issues.

60% of the time car drives like normal

but

sometimes when head off, or pull away from stationary, it feels like you have the handbreak on.

Gear changes seem erratic, sometimes gears are held on to far too long when normally the car would have changed up. other times gear changes seem "violent", accompanied by a "thunk".

Once it wouldn't go in to 3rd gear of higher, just got stuck in 1st/ 2nd

another time I had accelrated 30 - 50, took my pedal off the accelator and whilst the speed was falling there was a loud clunk, and when I put my foot back on the accelerator it appeared as if the car was in neutral. The engine revved, but there was no drive to the wheels, I coasted over to the side of the road, and up a country lane, still with no power to wheels, after about 500metres coasting, the drive chain re-engaged.

All the time the dash indicator showed "D".


I spoke to the mechanic about it, he said all he had done was change the oil and filter in the gearbox and oil in the torque converter too.

The car is booked back in for him to investigate.

I am annoyed because the car showed no symptoms whatsoever of needing any attention, I did this because I was advised it needed done, and now I have all this troubkle.

Any hints?

guy

 

I would say the fluid level is wrong since your car doesnt have a trans dipstick maybe you independant doesnt have the tool to correctly check the level.

 

My problems started the same. I have a 2001 clk430 conv. at the begining it will take off from second gear or it will not shift manually. But if you turn the car on and off it will rest to normal. other times when it shift into second it will be very hard. Eventially got stuck on first gear. took it to fletcher jones and they found the electronic controll module inside the trans. was bad. replaced $982.00 and everything went back to normal. Dont wait go to the dealer.

 

I have a CLK 320 (RH Drive) 2003 model with 95000 miles on the clock. I have had the car from new and serviced by a main dealer. The car has now started producing a humming noise between 25 & 60MPH when under a small load.
The wheels & bearrings have been checked OK
The garge reckons it could be oild in the gearbox oil or a problem with the exhaust fixings.

Any ideas?

 

check under the radiator top cross member and see if it the radioator was made by valeo. if it was then a mayor repairs are in call

 

You were correct. It appears this is a known problem at about 100K. I had a gearbox service and all is much better, but not completely. However, I am told the cause is most likely a leak from the radiator so that will need replacing. My dilema is whether to have the gearbox reconditioned now or later.
Has major damage been caused to my gearbox.
I am also told that this is a known problem

 

if this is the case the transmission system has been contaminated with glycol. the radiator , transmission and torque converter need to be replaced. cooling system must be flushed. if the vehicle is partially repaired. the new parts will be contaminated again due to glycol residue on the parts that were not replaced.
i hope that answers your questions.

 

Found that a gearbox service (oil & filter change) made the problem very much less servere.
So then had the radiator changed and another gearbox service. It now (touch wood) is like new.
Hopefully I have bought some time

 

Hey, im also having problems with my gear change....Its a clk 320 sport coupe 1998 with 103000 miles on the clock.
The problem im having is that when the car has been stood over night its terrible to get through the gears UNTIL the car has warmed up and then for the rest of the day its a dream, i have to set off in 2nd gear and manually change up to 4th but not D or it wont change back down again but sometimes it will only stay in 3rd till i stop the car turn it off and back on again!!!
Ive tried adding more oil and dropping small ammounts of oil from the sump plug, i also did a oil/filter change at 95000 but its been the same ever since....its driving me crazy!!!

HELP......

 

I have a 1998 clk320 and I had to have a rebuilt trans installed at 97,000 miles it cost $5800.00 at Fletcher Jones in Las Vegas.