ML320cdi w164 potential gearbox problems?

[WarnieV6GT]

I have just bought a 2006 ML320 and while I love the car it is starting to concern me after only one week of ownership. For instance last night the gearbox threw a wobbly and seemed to be stuck in 1st gear and has I came to a halt it wouldn't engage reverse or drive until I switched off the engine and switched it back on again. No other issues with it as it changes up and down perfectly usually.

Another concern is when the wife was driving it the car lost power and again required turning off and on again to put right. The car has done 116k and has just been serviced but I'm not sure when the gearbox was last serviced. The car has 3 weeks warranty left so I'd like an idea of what it could be as no doubt they will try and fob me off with "they all do that Sir etc"...

[Greenmantle]

plug in a code reader and read the codes from the Transmission Control Unit.
I bought a Icarsoft MB 2 to do this - about £140

Your ML is about the same age as my A class
Mine is on 136K
Mine is a 7g CVT gearbox
Yours won't be CVT but I bet the brains are the same.
have a look at ecutesting.com website - that explains the issues with the control unit.

John

[DapperDanMan]

The loss in power could be the turbo actuator sensing an issue with stuck vanes. The vanes inside the turbo which control flow of exhaust to the turbine can soot up over time causing them to get a little sticky (not completely stuck but reluctant to move smoothly). If this happens enough the ECU picks up via the actuator that this is happening and throws an engine code. Mine never showed the engine light and reset once turned off and on again. It would happen if I floored it and I learnt to drive around the problem by using more gentle right pedal movement.

So also check for engine codes to see if this is an issue mine was P0244.

See

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11...

JUST SAYING IT COULD BE not that it is.

Also if you can take it back to the garage then do so as you have then informed them in the 'warranty' period.

Edited by DapperDanMan on Friday 20th April 16:10

[Stegel]

The lost power comment could also mean it’s the turbo having issues, which is quite common on OM642 diesels. When the vane actuator jams, the car lacks all oomph, and it holds a low gear and barely accelerates or revs. It’s not always accompanied by an EML, and frequently, for a while at least, a restart sees the symptoms disappear.

ETA - Beaten to it!