E & S switch on 200 E auto
Discussion
OK, I'm depressed I know the answer to this, but it's very likely the switch has got dirty inside.
I fixed mine in my lunch break so it's easy.
You just remove the switch and open it up. Watch the little plastic bits don't fall out. Then clean the metal bits. Mine were full of dirt, hair and stuff and it wasn't making contact.
When the switch is broken it defaults to 'S' mode.
If you get your 'E' mode working you'll notice that a) it won't rev over approx 3500 in any gear (UNLESS you use kickdown) and b) it won't start off in 1st gear at all (unless you use kickdown)
To access the switch, remove the wood gearbox surround (not sure how you do that on a 200E, on a 190E it just lifts out). Then I think you undo 4 screws holding the plate which guides the lever through it's wiggly path. It's very easy!
I fixed mine in my lunch break so it's easy.
You just remove the switch and open it up. Watch the little plastic bits don't fall out. Then clean the metal bits. Mine were full of dirt, hair and stuff and it wasn't making contact.
When the switch is broken it defaults to 'S' mode.
If you get your 'E' mode working you'll notice that a) it won't rev over approx 3500 in any gear (UNLESS you use kickdown) and b) it won't start off in 1st gear at all (unless you use kickdown)
To access the switch, remove the wood gearbox surround (not sure how you do that on a 200E, on a 190E it just lifts out). Then I think you undo 4 screws holding the plate which guides the lever through it's wiggly path. It's very easy!
Switching from D to 2 and back to D does make it set off in 1st, but I need to do it each time I stop, is there a way of reprogramming the gearbox so it always sets off in 1st, Mine is 1991 if there were any changes during production.
The E - S switch has started working after moving it a few times so maybe it is dirty, I will strip it down this weekend to clean it
The E - S switch has started working after moving it a few times so maybe it is dirty, I will strip it down this weekend to clean it
People talk about buying replacement/modified throttle bodies (why ?) to get "1st gear start", so as far as I've found there is no easy way to get first gear start.
It'll also start off in first if you push the throttle sharply enough from the initial off, I've become quite practiced at this - quick stab and then you can ease off, and you're in first. It's a bit odd though.
You can also look on your throttle linkage. There's 2 cables on it - the top one is the throttle, the bottom one is I believe called the bowden cable. Anyway, it goes to the gearbox to let it know the throttle position. You can turn the adjuster on this cable to tighten it and make it hold lower gears. If you go really crazy you can make it stay almost permanently in 4th gear, or turn the other way and have it drive around at 5000 rpm everywhere!
It'll also start off in first if you push the throttle sharply enough from the initial off, I've become quite practiced at this - quick stab and then you can ease off, and you're in first. It's a bit odd though.
You can also look on your throttle linkage. There's 2 cables on it - the top one is the throttle, the bottom one is I believe called the bowden cable. Anyway, it goes to the gearbox to let it know the throttle position. You can turn the adjuster on this cable to tighten it and make it hold lower gears. If you go really crazy you can make it stay almost permanently in 4th gear, or turn the other way and have it drive around at 5000 rpm everywhere!
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