My dad has a 1995 S 320 that is having a transmission problem. After the car is started reverse works fine, but when the car warms up to normal temperature, the car wont go anywhere. You can feel the car going into gear once reversed is engaged (could just be going out of the gear prior to putting in reverse), but it wont move when the gas is pressed. Any ideas?

 

Forward gears OK?

Trans oil level correct?

Stuart.

 

yes and yes.

 

problem occurs when
1. Engine warms up (say 2 mins) or
2. Gearbox warms up (say 20 min)?

If the former I'm at a loss other than some strange electrical issue with the trans ECU or more likely the CSL module.
Does moving the CSL (gear selector) a LITTLE bit forward or rearwards effect any change. i.e. CSL wear / adjustment.

Possible that the trans reverse band is worn or valve sticky but I would have expected the problem to have gotten worse over time.. Mileage?

Any forewarning of this problem or did it occur "overnight"

Subject to above I believe you have little option but to see whether any trans codes have been set by getting the car OBD scanned.
Not sure that any codes will have been set however.

Keep us advised.

Stuart

 

Sounds like the gearbox wiring loom is on its last legs. There are lots of seals on the wiring going into the gearbox, that should be replaced every few years (only cost a few pounds) as a preventative measure, but a Mercedes garage will not ever do this, otherwise as they get old, oil starts to get sucked up the wires in a capillary action, and when it reaches the first box of electronics, it goes.

Have it check it soon, hopefully the gearbox wiring loom has not gone, else it will be a very expensive repair!

 

Sounds like the gearbox wiring loom is on its last legs. There are lots of seals on the wiring going into the gearbox, that should be replaced every few years (only cost a few pounds) as a preventative measure, but a Mercedes garage will not ever do this, otherwise as they get old, oil starts to get sucked up the wires in a capillary action, and when it reaches the first box of electronics, it goes.

Have it check it soon, hopefully the gearbox wiring loom has not gone, else it will be a very expensive repair!

 

Did you ever solve this problem. My father has a low mileage (38000 miles) s600 v12 from 1995. (its 2025 but he rarely drives it)
Same issue and given S class and 1995 being a common thread, wondering if this inability to reverse after engine warms up
is related or the same issue.

Thanks


Jason in San Francisco tfkmain(at)gmail(dot)com