I have noticed more and more lately that my tranny defaults to neutral on heavy load. Example: when I am crusing around and want to shift and stomp, depending where i am in the current gear range, it might not let me down shift, but go into neutral for a second, then when rpms are down, will shift properly. I notice it more when I am in about third gear and want to down shift to do a nice rolling launch. It is as if I missed the gear. This may be a nanny feature, preventing me from putting too much on the tranny. I just hope that it gets better with a fluid and filter change.

It is all possible that I have too many rpms at the time I want to shift, that it is preventing me from putting due stress on the tranny. It has done it several times, and I just wanted some feedback on wether anyone else has experienced this and what were the conditions.

 

if you want 2nd gear at 80 mph and slamm the shiffter to 2nd it simply wont go. ecu compensates. no lurches. if your close to the rpm range there may be some confusion on the part of the tcu.
go to mbworld.org and search the c32/c55 section for threads by hooleyboy. he drags his s/c c55 constantly and fried his tranny. his has many threads on symptoms and his recent complete renntech heavy duty rebuild for 2500$. afaik he has trashed his more than anyone! diff car same trans as yours

 

I do that a lot,, i am going along and slam the shifter to the left hard the tranny goes into the lowest gear that is under 6200rpm, no defalts just gos into the lower gear. if you hapen to go to neutral the tranny will wait for lower rpm before ingaging into gear. at 80mph ,,slam the shifter over hard and hit the gas at the same time and it should drop to 3 and go like hell. jim

 

Well this morning I jumped on the freeway to go to work, and kicked it down to jump into traffic and it dropped down a gear or two and then jumped into neutral. I was into traffic so as soon as it did it I let off and it was fine. First time it has done it by just letting it kick down itself. I will take it to the dealer, but I am just worried that I will get the "I can't recreate it" syndrome. I keep trying to amke excuses for the tranny like maybe it was just cold, or whatever. Do anyone think the dealer will tke my word for it, or deny me cause they can't get it to screw up? I need to go swap some things before I put her in, but dread the dealer.

 

Have you checked your trans fluid, could being low cause this? Do you have a leak, are had 1 repaired?

 

Mine will argue with me if I try to shift too low, like others said. I've been down shifting and hit the selector left right when the car decided to downshift which threw it into first gear at way too high a speed. The rpms went up over redline and the car jerked a lot and went into neutral for a second before getting back to a higher gear. Could this be the problem, you and the car deciding to downshift at the same time?

But other than that mine has never done it. Does it actually tell you in the little indicator box that it is in neutral?

 

never says N... just revs without movement. That is a good decription though, "car and I downshifting at the same time." I pull the shifter over and stomp the gas at the same time, but I think it is either dirty fluid. low fluid or something amiss.

 

I had a similar experience while "exercising" my SRT last summer. I was exiting one freeway and merging onto another. I punched it midway through the ramp and was well over 80 by the time I slid into the far left lane. I was not shifting manually. When I realized how fast I was going, I lifted. I heard a THUNK! and when I went to reapply some throttle, I got nothing. The tach topped 5k before I realized that the transmission had disengaged. I had enough speed that I was able to coast back across two lanes of highway traffic and up the next exit ramp into a gas station. I shut off the car and waited 30 very long seconds. When I turned it back on, everything was fine and it hasn't given me any grief since.

Based on the descriptions here, I think I lifted right at the moment the transmission was going to shift. Perhaps the mixed signals triggered the shift to neutral. Whatever it was, I didn't care for it one bit.

 

Sounds like you SRT guys just have to make better friends with your cars. It's a partnership thing.

Stick shifters must have that relationship in order to be aggressive. We can double clutch and make ours do about anything we want.

Sometimes, I swear, I beat mine like a rented mule. It complains but, We Are Still Friends!

So sad to hear your SC's are emasculated.

roadster with a stick

 

It's most likely low fluid. I was having the same problem with it going into neutral under hard acceleration and also staying stuck in second gear sometimes. After adding some fluid it hasn't happened again.

 

nothing i love better than thumping the fire out of a stick with my auto!! just ask and ill oblige !!

 

It's not your auto, it's your compressor that gives youthe edge off the line. I know 'cause I 've got one of dem push an' go fast SRT toys too.

But, you'll gain not one inch on me in the twisties. As many who have tried at the Dragon will attest.

The closes competitor I ever had thru the Dragon was a white NA crossfire with a manual. I believe it was 911. Maybe it was his red pin stripes, maybe it was his better hands on the shifter. I'm not sure and he's not saying. But, he gave me one hell-of-a race.

roadster with a stick

 

im game! mine being black gives me the edge and the dragon is in my backyard!! i used to run it on my harley
but your rite. i cant gain inches when im in front!!!

 

touche'

See ya there in September.


franc

 

Be sure to let us know how that turns out.

 

I could tell ya now but ....that would be boasting.


roadster with a stick

 

Well I changed the fluid and filter yesterday. I ran as much fluid out as i could, by running it through the gears until it stopped draining. I was a bit leary running the tranny with no fluid for very long, but at idle I doubted much strain was on the parts. Anyway, i turned the TC over and over hoping to see a drainplug, but nothing. I think I got five or six quarts out, replaced the filter, wiped down the pan and magnet ( there was a bit of metal dust sludge), bolted back together, and added new fluid. I added as much as I drained but I really need to check the level properly, so I may run by the dealer to see if I can "borrow" a dipstick to check. I could and will eventually breakdown and buy a tranny dipstick, but not today.

I will say it shifts a bit better/stiffer this morning, so I have high hopes cleanign the system will have solved my immediate problems. Thanks for everyones help and opinions, and I will update if I find anything amiss.

 

I had changed the fluid and filter with ATF+4. It seemed to like the fluid change but didn't help the tranny shifting under load. I took it to the dealer today, and they of course can't find the problem. He then told me that they would do a tranny flush for $270 and put the proper Crossfire Sprinter fluid in. It might not fix my problem but atleast I would have the right fluid in. I told him i would not pay someone 300 dollars to change the fluid when I can do it myself. I know we have had this discussion before but did we come to a conclusion wether ATF4 was ok or should I spend another 130 to get MB fluid or the Mopar Sprinter stuff they are trying to bait me with? So I am stuck with the $85 dollar diagnosis fee for finding nothing, bastards.

 

I have a question, that may be why my trans goes into safe mode. Does anyone hold the AutoStick to the left while speeding through the gears. When I stomp it on the street, I pull it over into autostick and hold it so that it downshifts to the lowest possible gear. I continue to hold it as I stomp on the gas, thinking it will hold the gear longer. I think what is happening is that when it is time to redline shift, the tranny is confused with the signals it is getting and goes to safe mode/torque lockout. I had just started holding the gear lately do to a post or something and didn't put two and two together that it may be my cause of tranny problems. The car shifts fine normally, and so far if I just pull it over and let it down shift, but let off of the stick before it shifts then no problems.

I don't know, I guess I am justifying the cars actions. Dealership can't/won't figure it out so it is up to me. I am hoping it is just a miscommunication between me and the car, so that it won't be the cars fault. Just need some opinions.

 

I'm in the process of changing all of the fluids and was searching for ATF available online when I found this post on a Sprinter forum....

Do not underestimate the importance of using the correct Dodge ATF for the Sprinter. Mine became nearly un-drivable after a recent ATF change at the dealer. Within 200 miles it developed the rumble strip noise / slip stick transmission shudder problem. The dealer assured me they used the proper fluid. I drained the trans and torque converter and replaced it with the Sprinter Crossfire fluid 236.14 Problem GONE. it now is as smooth as new. 3000 miles later still fine

I just bought 8 liters of Fuchs fluid that meets Mercedes specs from the following site. I'd definitely drain the ATF+4 out if it were mine. Hope this helps.

Transmission Fluid- OEM Fuchs-4 Liters 2002-2010