Automatic problems....help please

Cat53

Cat53

Joined
Feb 22, 2014
Posts
2,107
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Location
Grantham
Funster No
30,233
MH
Rapido Le Randonneur
Exp
Since 2015
This is our problem...

I have a Rapido motorhome on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis and which uses the Sprint Shift gear change (I am disabled and limited to automatic vehicles).

Last week we were getting on the M69 at Leicester and seemed to have difficulty climbing the slight hill. I looked down and noticed that instead of A on the dashboard I had 4. I changed to 5 then 6 and was going along well. We stopped when we could, switched off and on again but when I moved the gearstick to the left it would only show 1 not A. We drove the whole journey and return "manually" changing gears. When stopped at a junction the gears would automatically go to 1 or 2 but I would then have to change up (I haven’t driven a manual for 23 years so I kept forgetting).

Any ideas? Trying to find an answer others went to "limp home" mode but mine seems to work ok just not automatic.
 
I had a ford that would loose gears. I would turn everything off for a couple of minutes and it would reset. If this not working for you, maybe a dealer reset will sort it
Good luck
 
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Cat53 said:
This is our problem...

I have a Rapido motorhome on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis and which uses the Sprint Shift gear change (I am disabled and limited to automatic vehicles).

Last week we were getting on the M69 at Leicester and seemed to have difficulty climbing the slight hill. I looked down and noticed that instead of A on the dashboard I had 4. I changed to 5 then 6 and was going along well. We stopped when we could, switched off and on again but when I moved the gearstick to the left it would only show 1 not A. We drove the whole journey and return "manually" changing gears. When stopped at a junction the gears would automatically go to 1 or 2 but I would then have to change up (I haven’t driven a manual for 23 years so I kept forgetting).

Any ideas? Trying to find an answer others went to "limp home" mode but mine seems to work ok just not automatic.
Click to expand...


Egg sucking time

has the gearbox oil level
Been checked

Just asking :Smile::blush:
 
Yes first stop check fluid level

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No idea but this thread might help?

Linky
 
Cat53 said:
This is our problem...

I have a Rapido motorhome on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis and which uses the Sprint Shift gear change (I am disabled and limited to automatic vehicles).

Last week we were getting on the M69 at Leicester and seemed to have difficulty climbing the slight hill. I looked down and noticed that instead of A on the dashboard I had 4. I changed to 5 then 6 and was going along well. We stopped when we could, switched off and on again but when I moved the gearstick to the left it would only show 1 not A. We drove the whole journey and return "manually" changing gears. When stopped at a junction the gears would automatically go to 1 or 2 but I would then have to change up (I haven’t driven a manual for 23 years so I kept forgetting).

Any ideas? Trying to find an answer others went to "limp home" mode but mine seems to work ok just not automatic.
Click to expand...

Which Model / Year engine and gearbox combination?

I have the 3L Auto. 2009?. And the OBDI reader for that model?. Cost me £85 and has saved me over £200 so far?.
 
Thank you all. We have contacted the mechanic who sorted the battery for us. He’s mobile and he will come to have a look after he gets back from the TT races. He’s going to ask around. Steve is no longer able to tackle mechanical issues due to being the wheelchair, so self help is not an option. The gear oil and filters have been mentioned before, so is certainly something we will investigate. She’s been turned off and back on again. That didn’t work. Once sorted I will update you all on what the problem was. Many thanks.
 
tofo said:
Egg sucking time

has the gearbox oil level
Been checked

Just asking :Smile::blush:
Click to expand...

No idea. We have had her for two years. Serviced yearly, but don’t know without dragging out the paperwork!

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PeteH said:
Which Model / Year engine and gearbox combination?

I have the 3L Auto. 2009?. And the OBDI reader for that model?. Cost me £85 and has saved me over £200 so far?.
Click to expand...

2006 3 litre Auto. Mercedes Sprinter base.
 
Have a look on the net at American web sites about sprinter vans.

There’s some interesting info on there, including if the box locks into first when stationary with the ignition off/on.
As in if you turned it off with it in gear.

Turn the ignition on and open the passenger door and the box can then be selected to neutral.

I know sounds weird but I had to do this when I first bought the van not being used to driving a sprint shift. I turned her off when in gear :rolleyes:

Edit just thought I had issues with a Vivaro van and the ecu.
It would reset itself by pulling the main fuse and leaving for half an hour.

I’ve no idea if this would help but remember any radio codes etc may be lost and need re entering.
 
Silver-Fox said:
Have a look on the net at American web sites about sprinter vans.

There’s some interesting info on there, including if the box locks into first when stationary with the ignition off/on.
As in if you turned it off with it in gear.

Turn the ignition on and open the passenger door and the box can then be selected to neutral.

I know sounds weird but I had to do this when I first bought the van not being used to driving a sprint shift. I turned her off when in gear :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Oh! Ok. Thank you.
 
Silver-Fox said:
Have a look on the net at American web sites about sprinter vans.

There’s some interesting info on there, including if the box locks into first when stationary with the ignition off/on.
As in if you turned it off with it in gear.

Turn the ignition on and open the passenger door and the box can then be selected to neutral.

I know sounds weird but I had to do this when I first bought the van not being used to driving a sprint shift. I turned her off when in gear :rolleyes:

Edit just thought I had issues with a Vivaro van and the ecu.
It would reset itself by pulling the main fuse and leaving for half an hour.

I’ve no idea if this would help but remember any radio codes etc may be lost and need re entering.
Click to expand...

How weird! But I will remember that! Thank you.

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Cat53 said:
Thank you. It seems the ‘Actuator’ might be the problem....whatever that is!!
Click to expand...
The gearbox you have is a robotic manual the same as Fiats Comfortmatic. Actuators replace your left foot on the clutch and your hand on the gearlever. The box has a conventional clutch (but the clutch cable and pedal is replaced with a servo or actuator) and a conventional manual gearbox again with the linkage and lever replaced by a couple of servos / actuators. The servos / actuators are controlled by a gearbox Electronic Control Unit.
 
Last edited:
Just having a quick look through sprinter forums indicates that vacuum leaks can cause the described behaviour, it might be one place to look at.
 
tonyidle said:
The gearbox you have is a robotic manual the same as Fiats Comfortmatic. Actuators replace your left foot on the clutch and your hand on the gearlever. The box has a conventional clutch (but the clutch cable and pedal is replaced with a servo or actuator) and a conventional manual gearbox again with the linkage and lever replaced by a couple of servos / actuators. The servos / actuators are controlled by a gearbox Electronic Control Unit.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Every day is a school day. Great explanation especially for someone who knows very little about mechanics!
 
ChrisL said:
Just having a quick look through sprinter forums indicates that vacuum leaks can cause the described behaviour, it might be one place to look at.
Click to expand...

Thank you. We didn’t go into limp home mode though.
 
Had a similar problem with my sprintshift,
would not stay in auto but drove ok in manual. Nothing on fault codes but fortunately one of the mechanic's had seen the problem before and was able to pinpoint the fault.
Just dug out my old invoice and it says..
Replace pressure converter -charge control pressure switch .
Pressure converter £79.50
Labour £55.00
That was 8 years ago and she still drives perfectly today

Regards Bob.

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Silver-Fox said:
Have a look on the net at American web sites about sprinter vans.

There’s some interesting info on there, including if the box locks into first when stationary with the ignition off/on.
As in if you turned it off with it in gear.

Turn the ignition on and open the passenger door and the box can then be selected to neutral.

I know sounds weird but I had to do this when I first bought the van not being used to driving a sprint shift. I turned her off when in gear :rolleyes:

Edit just thought I had issues with a Vivaro van and the ecu.
It would reset itself by pulling the main fuse and leaving for half an hour.

I’ve no idea if this would help but remember any radio codes etc may be lost and need re entering.
Click to expand...


Coming back from getting our's MOT'd, "going down hill" I noticed the drivers door wasn't shut properly, opened it & shut it on the move,
when I started to go up the other side it had gone into limp & manual mode, pulled into a layby switched off, started again all fine but about 5 miles & limp & manual again.
Got home locked her & thought the worst, next morning all fine!!
Spoke to a customer of mine who was in the diagnostic game & he said opening the door, shutting it & locking it will reset thing's on some Merc's :doh:
 
GRUMPY OLD GIT said:
Had a similar problem with my sprintshift,
would not stay in auto but drove ok in manual. Nothing on fault codes but fortunately one of the mechanic's had seen the problem before and was able to pinpoint the fault.
Just dug out my old invoice and it says..
Replace pressure converter -charge control pressure switch .
Pressure converter £79.50
Labour £55.00
That was 8 years ago and she still drives perfectly today

Regards Bob.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much, Bob. Have copied your response and sent it to hubby, ready for our mechanic. (y)
 
Enword said:
Coming back from getting our's MOT'd, "going down hill" I noticed the drivers door wasn't shut properly, opened it & shut it on the move,
when I started to go up the other side it had gone into limp & manual mode, pulled into a layby switched off, started again all fine but about 5 miles & limp & manual again.
Got home locked her & thought the worst, next morning all fine!!
Spoke to a customer of mine who was in the diagnostic game & he said opening the door, shutting it & locking it will reset thing's on some Merc's :doh:
Click to expand...

Very odd. Just to say doors have been opened. She’s been turned off and on again. Problem persists, but we are very grateful for all and every reply. We now have somewhere to look. (y)
 
Last edited:
Do you mean 2.7 litre engine not 3 litre?
Later 3 litre ones had full auto gearboxes.
 
OK, mine is a 2008 build, (2009 reg) 3Litre V6, with Auto box and Rear wheel drive. It has the 722.6 designation, 5speed Gearbox. If that helps?.

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