MB 230 AUTO Sticking

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Mon 29 Aug 2005 09:20
MB 230 AUTO Sticking - msmz
when starting the car the gearbox sticks in first gear and jerks before going in to second. After that the car runs smoothly. Any ideas on what the problem is.
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Mon 29 Aug 2005 11:37
MB 230 AUTO Sticking - MW
Most automatic gearboxes are a little 'heavy' on the first gearchange when cold. My MB 230 can be. Has it just started to do this? I would change the gearbox oil and filter as a fist port of call. When was this last done? Depending on the model and year, this can be a £30 DIY job. Such a chnage is always good for gearbox life anyway.
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Mon 29 Aug 2005 12:18
MB 230 AUTO Sticking - Roger Jones

As the owner of two MBs, I'd echo what MW reports and suggests. Make sure you do the change very carefully, with a surgical approach to cleanliness and following instructions in the handbook (or elsewhere in the Forum), especially in checking the refilled level, which is crucial.

If the colour of the old fluid is anything other than bright pink, you may have a deeper problem, but see what a fluid change does first and check the colour again after a few hundred miles.

Don't panic. If there is a problem, it could be easily fixable by an auto-transmission specialist, of which there are plenty about, e.g.:

Automatic GearBox Centre (Luton)
www.automaticgearbox.biz/

Federation of Automatic Transmission Engineers
www.fedauto.co.uk/

JP (automatic transmissions (Bristol)
www.jpat.co.uk/

Sussex Auto Parts (Hailsham)
www.sussexautos.co.uk/

Stephens Engineering (London N13)
www.stephensengineering.co.uk/

G. Whitehouse Autos (Halesowen)
www.gwautos.com/

If there are plenty of miles on the car, you may like to consider getting a full autobox service, which I believe costs in the region of £150. I am planning to do that with my W126 when it hits 150k.

Edited by Kalpesh Mistry on 28/03/2017 at 16:03

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Tue 30 Aug 2005 17:28
MB 230 AUTO Sticking - drbe
You could of course, put the W/S switch in the W position, then it will always pull away in 2nd.
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Tue 30 Aug 2005 21:10
MB 230 AUTO Sticking - Aprilia
Sounds very much like a sticking governor. Try changing the fluid about 3 times (much of the fluid is retained in the torque convertor, so multiple changes are needed to 'refresh' it all). Use a decent quality DIII - the high detergent level in the new fluid may clean off the varnish and gum that is causing the governor to stick. If that fails then you may need to have the box stripped. Sometimes it can be a sign of a failing component (wear particles circulating in the 'box). Put a new filter in when you change the fluid - make sure its an OEM one, some of the aftermarket ones can make the 'box 'howl'.
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