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[richgilb]

Hi All

I posted abut a shuddering gearbox in 1st and reverse on my autobox in a different subforum and was wondering if anyone knew anyone who could diagnose the fault in writing near Hull? I found one specialist called Listers but he asked for £45 to diagnose. Fair enough but I have never had to pay a mechanic before to tell me what is wrong with my cars. Hopefully there will be someone out there that can tell me without charging me?

Cheers
Rich

[basilbrush]

Actually Rich £45 these days for a diagnostic check is not unreasonable. The days of a mechanic coming out wiping his hands on an oily rag and having a butcher's under your bonnet are long gone. They're technicians now and the Mercedes Star diagnostics equipment represents a considerable investment on the part of the garage.
Vehicles have to be booked in now and all time has to be accounted for. To give you an idea look at this youtube vid of what's involved http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibod9KTeT3I
If you have a problem for example with your clutch adjustment that equipment will not only diagnose the  problem it is also necessary to correct it. Best to bite the bullet pay it and then you'll know exactly what your up against in the place that will be able to sort it.

[richgilb]

I guess so....thing is I am about to enter a dispute with the dealer I suspect.

I reckon it will need parts....but I see this problem can be temporarily sorted by a clean and regrease or something. And obviously he will choose the cheapest route and later on down the line, I am stuck again.

So I really need the diagnostic write-up to present to the dealer (150 miles away), not just a mechanic's verbalised price. Shame I feel I will have to fork out cash for a warranty issue, though.

[basilbrush]

You can get your diagnostic print out and ask for a written, detailed repair estimate and take it back to the supplying dealer. If you're still in the statutory warranty period threaten them with local Tradings Standards and also try and stick them with the diagnostics bill.
Good luck!! Best to know your ground when you get in a battle.

[Problemchild]

Make sure it's a merc specialist who has star diagnostic - generic code readers are a waste of time and money.

I will go back and read your juddering probs too

JJ

[CrazyG]

As per replies elswhere on the forum re AMT gearbox issues.....
you need to have the car put on an MB Star diagnostics machine...
1/ to ensure the clutch adjustment is set up correctly for 'drag' and 'bite'....
2/ to see what version gearbox software you have...and to see if it is the
    latest that was available...and if not...have it upgraded.
    (get the 'examiner' to check that they have the latest).
As was also said earlier... a lot of dealers will not have upgraded the
software on their Star machine due to the cost of it, and the limited
demand/requirement of owners wanting the upgrade and having to pay
for it. In other words, the dealer/specialists will not get any return for it.

For your info...the cost of a Star diagnostics machine and it's connection
to MB/Smart is over £18K a year....updates are extra.  So now you can
understand why they charge what they do for any diagnostics check.
MB/Smart charge more than an 'independant' authorised Smart specialist.
£30 (upwards or so for basic diagnostics) vice MB's £50+.
Generic diagnostic machines; as stated; cannot do the adjustments....
they're ok for basic simple stuff (15% or so)...but anything more is
way beyond their capabilities for MB and Smarts.

Any more posts on this thread should relate to advising of a good reliable
Smart garage of independant Smart specialist in or around the Hull area.

[Unknown]

Hi there. I live east of 'Ull and the only smart indy i know of is a mobile one http://www.forsmart.co.uk/ I have never used them but they do have a good reputation. There plenty of gearbox specialists in Hull, might be worth contacting one of them.