[dropcap]E[/dropcap]arly detection of automatic transmission problems of your Mercedes Benz is critical as it can save you from costly repairs or even the replacement of your transmission system, which can be more expensive than overhauling your car’s engine. Sometimes, it could be that the transmission fluid is all that needs to be changed. Paying attention to any change in the transmission can be very important not least because it can save you from the expensive Mercedes automatikgetriebe. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to troubleshoot your transmission like an expert.

1. Detecting Problems While Driving

Watch for Vehicle Vibrations

The vibrations you hear while driving can be caused by a whole host of things. While some vibrations can be as harmless as an ice cream stuck on your rims or a rock on your tires, others are not to be taken lightly as they can be indicative of more serious problems of transmission. If you feel or hear a new vibration while behind the wheels, stop to check your tires first. In case they don’t seem to be the cause of the problem, the vibration could have been caused by an issue with the drivetrain.

• Your vehicle’s drivetrain includes the transmission, engine, driveshafts, and transfer cases.
• Try to figure out where the vibration is from.
• Watch out for Jerky Shifts

One of the more effective ways of diagnosing a troubled automatic transmission system is to pay close attention to how the vehicle shifts from one gear to the other. Normally, automatic transmission shifts fairly smoothly. If shifting appears abrupt or leads to you lurching forward, it means the transmission struggles to shift into the next gear.

Oftentimes, hard shifting is a result of worn or low transmission. Once you are where you can pull over, check the transmission to fluid to make sure it’s not too low.

Listen for grinding

Grinding is often a sign of trouble and if you gear it, your vehicle’s transmission could be bad. It could indicate that your clutch fails to entirely engage or disengage. It could also mean that the synchro gears in the transmission are worn out. Grinding often points to a metal caught up in the gear transmission, and it’s only a matter of time before it fails.

• Stop the vehicle right away if you hear any signs of grinding as you drive.

Call us, and we will come and tow your vehicle to our facility free of charge for Mercedes automatikgetriebe reparatur.

Tie the vibration to wheel speed or engine speed

While trying to diagnose a transmission problem while driving, press on the gas to accelerate, and then check whether the vibration slows down, speeds up or disappears. Next, have the vehicle out of gear and again press the gas. See if there is a difference in the way the vibration behaves in each case:

• In case the vibration appears to occur at certain speeds only, the problem could be due to an unbalanced wheel
• If it stays constant or disappears when the vehicle is in neutral, the issue could be with the drive shift or wheels going to them
• In case the vibrations appear to increase with the engine’s revolutions per minute, it’s most likely because of a problem with the transmission or engine.

Watch the Tachometer

Automatic transmissions usually shift at different revolutions per minute according to the throttle that you input. If you accelerate too fast, the car’s transmission will shift at a greater RPM compared to typical driving speed. The transmission doesn’t have to allow the vehicle to remain at a high RPM for long before it shifts to the next gear. If you notice that it’s the case for your vehicle, then there is a problem.

Usually, you can hear when your car’s plateau is at an RPM that it should shift from. Pay attention to the engine sound and see whether it appears to work harder than it normally does when in a lower gear for an extended period.

2. Common Transmission Problems to be on the lookout for

Check for Leakage of Transmission Fluid

One of the main causes of automatic transmission issues is low fluid levels occasioned by leaks. Examine closely where you packed your car to see if there are wet spots. If there is one, touch it and then wipe your finger on a plain paper sheet to determine its color.

• Usually, the color of the automatic transmission fluid is red. If it has been burned, it should be dark red.
• The coolant is green or orange in color.
• The oil color is usually black or brown.

Ascertain that the transmission fluid is full

If there are signs the transmission fluid has leaked, check to make sure it is of the right level. Similarly to a regular oil dipstick, you will see full and minimum lines clearly displayed on the stick. Take the dipstick out and wipe it off clean. Insert it again and remove it to check the transmission fluid levels. In case it is low, add transmission fluid to resolve any issue that you have.

Assess the Transmission Fluid State

With the dipstick removed from the transmission fluid, take time to assess its color. The normal color of transmission fluid is dark red, but the more it is in use, the darker it will be. Usually, the dark color doesn’t indicate any problem unless it is smells burnt and appears almost black.

Conversely, you should be wary of extremely light fluid color. It could mean that it has been contaminated with water, and this is a grave problem. While draining and consequently flushing the transmission fluid isn’t a viable solution, it could be the thing to do in some cases.

• Extremely dark red or black transmission fluid means that the transmission mostly works at above the recommended temperature range.
• Pink shows there is water contamination. The solution is draining the transmission and then replacing the fluid.
• You should also take it to a mechanic to identify the source of water and be fixed. Otherwise, it will recur.

Conclusion

In most cases, it’s much easier to fix your automatic transmission problems if they are detected early. Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert mechanic to tell that your car’s transmission has gone bad. With simple checks and tips above, anyone can self-diagnose a Mercedes Benz and determine if it has a transmission problem.

If you realize that it has a problem, park the car at the nearest convenient location and call us. We will tow it for you free of charge. Also, as the repair goes on, we will give you a rental car at our cost, so your activities don’t have to stop your operations because of a lack of a car. Call us today for more information on how we can help you.