Mercedes 7 speed auto gearbox problems range from mild to severe. However, all of them have to be attended to as soon as they rear their heads to prevent damage to the gearbox.
Usually, the problems start as intermittent but often become dangerous when left for long. In this article, we’ll go over the most common problems that affect the gearbox and how to solve them.
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What Causes the Mercedes 7 Speed Auto Gearbox Problems?
The causes of Mercedes 7 speed auto gearbox problems include delayed gear shifting due to inadequate fluid, bad transmission, and transmission slips. Other problems are a malfunctioning conductor plate, hard shift and gear getting stuck in 2nd when accelerating from a stop light.
Delayed Gear Shifting Due to Inadequate Fluid
Delayed gear shifting can occur when there’s not enough transmission fluid or the transmission fluid is committed. For a gearbox to function at optimum capacity, its transmission fluid must be up to the required level.
The fluid lubricates bearings and the metallic parts in the transmission, making the shifting of gears easier on your vehicle. Thus, if there’s not enough to lubricate the transmission, the metallic parts will grind against each other, causing damage to the transmission.
If the solenoid is damaged, the gears may get stuck at the wrong speed or delay in shifting and pose a danger to the transmission. The transmission speed sensors work with the transmission control module (TCM) to determine which gear to engage, depending on the vehicle’s speed. Thus, if the sensors are faulty, they’ll give confusing signals to the TCU, causing a delay in shifting the gear.
Bad Automatic Transmission Gearbox
Another cause of gearbox problems in the Mercedes 7 speed vehicle is a bad transmission. There are several factors that contribute to bad transmission, including a faulty TCM conductor plate. The TCM conductor plate helps transport the signals and controls the various parts of the transmission.
A faulty plate obstructs these signals and controls, causing a delay in gear shifting before suddenly forcing it into the right gear. This action causes a sudden jerk while the vehicle is in motion and can destroy the transmission if left unchecked.
Another factor that causes bad transmission is aged transmission fluid. The Mercedes 7 speed auto gearbox requires a fluid change every 40,000 miles. It is easy to forget to change the fluid due to the lengthy period, making aged transmission fluid a common problem. When transmission fluid ages, it loses its lubricating powers, forcing the moving parts to rub against each other and throw up fault codes on the OBII scanner.
A Malfunctioning Valve Body
The valve body controls the fluid flow to essential parts of the transmission where the gear changes occur. It is made of passages, solenoids, and valves that help shift gears. If the valve body malfunctions, it won’t direct the transmission fluid to where it’s needed, thus, hampering gear changes.
The symptoms of a malfunctioning valve body are hard gear shifting, wrong up or downshifting, knocking sounds, and shift flares.
Slips in Mercedes Transmission
Transmission slips occur when the gear selector moves in and out of sync. The slips are usually caused by the wearing of several components of the transmission. Some notable culprits include damaged clutch plates, solenoid packs, and transmission bands. Transmission slips are dangerous if you don’t attend to them immediately; thus, you need to watch out for a few signs.
The first sign to watch out for is the check engine light, but this light also indicates several other faults. Thus, you must observe whether the gear tries to go higher and shifts suddenly into a lower gear. If you try to accelerate and your RPMs increase, but the speed remains the same, then your transmission is slipping.
The major cause of slipping in the Mercedes 7 speed automatic gearbox is inadequate fluid in the transmission. Thus, check your fluid level whenever the transmission is slipping, and top it up if it’s not at the right level. Another cause of slipping is worn or burned fluid. Always change your fluid every 40,000 miles to ensure your gearbox performs efficiently.
Hard Shifting in the Mercedes 7 Speed Transmission
Hard shifting occurs when the vehicle struggles to change gears, accelerate, or transition smoothly. Usually, you feel a thud or a clunk when the gear successfully shifts to another one. The common cause of hard shifting is low or worn-out transmission fluid. When there’s inadequate transmission fluid, the vehicle strains itself to shift the gears, decreasing the 7G-tronic lifespan.
In older automatic transmission vehicles without TCMs, hard shifting is usually caused by a damaged vacuum line. The transmission is controlled by the vacuum modulator valve, which determines the kind of load being placed on it through the vacuum line. The vacuum line, which is a hose attached to the intake valve, then determines the vacuum in the engine. The transmission then uses these values to shift the gears according to the car’s speed.
Faulty sensors also cause hard shifting when they transmit the wrong signals to the transmission. Modern car transmissions have sensors that help to determine when to change gears and to what degree. Thus, if any of the sensors develop a fault, it results in wrong signals to the transmission. The gearbox won’t decipher the signals properly and might get stuck trying to shift gears, resulting in hard shifting.
How To Fix Mercedes 7 Speed Auto Gearbox Problems
To fix Mercedes 7 speed auto gearbox problems, start by topping up the fluid or changing it completely. If the issue is a result of failed sensors, then those sensors need replacement. However, if your valve body is malfunctioning, it’ll be cheaper to rebuild it than to replace it.
Also, if the components of the valve body are few, rebuilding it might be a more prudent option, which we’ll later come to.
How To Change Mercedes 7 Speed Automatic Transmission Fluid
Low and worn-out transmission fluid accounts for most of the problems with the Mercedes 7 automatic transmission gearbox. Thus, solving this problem would fix at least half of the issues bedeviling the gearbox. The only way to fix this problem is by changing the transmission fluid. Fortunately, replacing the old transmission fluid with a new one is the easiest fix when it comes to this type of gearbox.
Start by warming up the engine to get the fluid flowing freely; you can even go for a short drive. Once the engine is warm enough, raise the vehicle with jacks and place it on level stands. Get under the car and check for leaks to ensure the new brake fluid stays in the system. If you find leaks, take the appropriate steps to seal them.
Next, locate the drain plug and place a large pan underneath it to drain the old transmission fluid. Now you can remove the plug and let the fluid pour into the drain pan before taking out the old gasket. Remove the old filter and replace the filter and the gasket you removed earlier. Replace the drain plug, and fill the transmission with a new fluid according to the specifications in the manual.
Fixing the Mercedes 7 Speed Auto Transmission Valve Body
The valve body is an important and delicate part of the transmission; thus, it can’t be fixed by anyone without proper training and certification. Usually, the mechanic will open the valve to determine which components need replacing or fixing. The replacement cost is high, as you may spend no less than $2,000. Therefore, we’ll advise you not to touch anything in the valve body to avoid worsening the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Reset the Mercedes 722.9 Transmission?
To reset the Mercedes 722.9 transmission, switch the car on without switching the engine. This should illuminate all the dashboard lights, then depress the gas pedal all the way. Turn off the car, take your feet off the gas pedal, and wait for 2 minutes.
What Are Mercedes 9 Speed Gearbox Problems?
The Mercedes 9 speed auto gearbox problems include grinding noise, slow gear shifting, poor acceleration, and faulty solenoid. These problems start intermittently but become worse if they are ignored. Thus, we recommend that you fix them as soon as they occur.
How Reliable Is Mercedes 7 Speed Auto Gearbox Service?
The Mercedes 7 Speed Auto Gearbox Service is very reliable, as it can last an average of 7 years or 200,000 miles, depending on good maintenance. Some drivers claim theirs lasted about 10 years when they changed the fluid regularly and fixed the niggling problems before it became worse.
Conclusion
This article has discussed the common issues that affect the Mercedes Benz G-Tronic transmission and has suggested ways of fixing them.
Here is a recap of all we’ve talked about:
- The issues that affect the G-Tronic automatic transmissions include delayed gear shifting, transmission slips, hard shifting and faulty sensors.
- These problems are caused by inadequate or worn-out transmission fluid, a malfunctioning valve body, bad transmission and faulty solenoids.
- Fixing these issues requires replacing the affected components with new ones and changing the transmission fluid.
- You can also prevent these problems by changing the fluid every 40,000 miles to keep the metallic parts of the transmission lubricated.
- Only qualified technicians can service and replace the damaged parts of the transmission; therefore, we recommend you call on them when you face similar problems.
However, you can change worn or contaminated fluids at home by following the simple instructions outlined in this article. Always be proactive by solving the problems immediately they begin before they become worse.
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