If you drive a Mercedes-Benz with an automatic transmission, it needs to be serviced every 30,000 miles. This allows us here at HQ Autosport to replace the lubricating and hydraulic fluid and inspect all of the gears, seals, gaskets, and other parts to see if they are worn and need to be replaced. If your automatic transmission is having problems, you will notice one or more of the following signs.
Gear Shifting Problems
Whether you drive a Mercedes or a different European make, a faulty transmission will have problems shifting gears. It may skip gears in the gear cycle or slip out of gear. This is an indication that the transmission is not operating as it should be and it needs immediate attention.
Hot or Burning Odors
You may also detect hot or burning odors coming from underneath your Mercedes. This is where both the transmission and catalytic converter are located, so hot or burning odors can indicate a problem with either of these systems. In the case of a transmission, the odors may accompany other problems.
Leaking Fluid
One of those problems could be that your transmission is leaking fluid and this is why it is overheating. Low transmission fluid levels will overheat the transmission quickly. If your transmission is leaking, you will see red spots underneath your Mercedes toward the center.
Unusual Noises
Another sign of transmission problems is unusual noises coming from the transmission. You might hear grinding or squealing when the transmission shifts the gears, or you may hear humming sounds when the transmission is in neutral. These noises indicate a problem.
Unusual Vibration
Vibration when the transmission shifts gears also indicates a problem. The gear shifts should be smooth. You should only feel the difference in the RPMs in your Mercedes engine. If your vehicle shakes noticeably when the transmission shifts gears, the transmission needs to be serviced ASAP.
Refusal to Respond
In severe cases, your Mercedes or other European automobile’s transmission may refuse to respond when you attempt to put it in gear. It may also refuse to shift out of first gear once you have it in gear. This is an indication of serious transmission problems.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, all of the above might be accompanied by a check engine warning on your Mercedes’ dashboard. If the main computer chip – the engine control unit – detects a problem with the transmission, it will turn on the check engine light to alert you of trouble.
HQ Autosport in Escondido, CA, is European and high-performance automobile specialists. Call us today if your vehicle is showing any of the signs of transmission trouble listed above.
