MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
This procedure will reset the adaptive shifting points in your Mercedes-Benz automatic Transmission Control Unit (TCU). These simple do-it-yourself instructions take less than 5 minutes. No tools are required to perform this procedure and make your Mercedes-Benz shift like new. Try this if your car has been shifting sluggish recently. This will make your car fun to drive again; it’s like getting a free tune-up. This procedure applies to all Mercedes-Benz with the 5-speed 722.6 and 7 -speed 722.9. Today, this is about 95% of Mercedes-Benz cars except models made before 1995. This reset procedure works on automatic transmission only.
Does this work?
Yes! The Engine Control Unit (ECU) monitors your driving habits. It records the driving style, usually by looking at the last 40 shift points, and adjusts so the car shifts accordingly to your style. It monitors different sensors, such as the throttle or the gas pedal input. In other words, it learns your driving style. If you race your Mercedes-Benz, it will remember that and keep the gearbox in gear longer. If you drive it gently, it will adapt to that and change gears earlier.
Procedure Reset Transmission Adaptive Learning DIY
- Turn the key to position 2. You should see all the dash lights come on. Do NOT start the car. Position II: You should hear two clicks, and all your dash lights should turn on. Do not start the engine.
- Press the gas pedal all the way. You will activate the kick-down switch by pressing the accelerator pedal to the floor. Keep the gas pedal pressed down.
- Wait. Continue to keep the gas pedal pressed for at least 10 seconds.
- Turn the key to OFF, position 0. Don’t remove the key. Some models may need the key to be removed.
- Release the gas pedal.
- Wait 2 minutes. During this process, the key is left in the ignition in the OFF position.
- Start the car and drive.
Once you perform this procedure, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU) will work together to learn how you drive by monitoring your driving pattern. After you follow this programming method of the TCU/ECU, drive the car for 15 min. Do not race the vehicle unless that’s how you always plan on driving. It would be best to have a transmission that shifts smoothly and usually. You may feel like you have a new transmission!
Video: How to reset and program Mercedes-Benz transmission.
How often should you perform this reset?
Even though the car is supposed to relearn and adapt to your driving style and habits automatically, that works better in theory than in practice. Engineers at Mercedes-Benz had a good idea in mind. We recommend that you perform this once a month, but honestly, it’s all up to you.
This procedure should help if your transmission shifts randomly or jerks. Suppose transmission changes gears when unexpected if you are experiencing random downshifts or upshifts.
Does the dealer perform this procedure?
Yes, but using a different method. This procedure can also be performed by Mercedes-Benz dealers using Xentry DAS Diagnostic Scanner. This reset can be found under Control Units – Drive- Transmission – Control Unit Adaptations or Adaptation – Display and reset of adaptation data – Resetting of adaptation data
This should work on E, CLK CLS CLA ML, GLK S SLK C models, Crossfire, and any Mercedes Benz years:
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
What is the Best Scanner to Use for Diagnosing Transmission Problems?
If you’re experiencing problems with your Mercedes-Benz, a YOUCANIC full system diagnostic scanner can help you troubleshoot the issues. This advanced diagnostic tool can read and interpret the fault codes stored in your car’s computer system, providing detailed information about any problems with the engine, transmission, brakes, or other critical systems.
The YOUCANIC scanner can also perform diagnostic tests on various systems, including the ABS, airbag, and steering systems, to help pinpoint the root cause of any issues. With this information, you can make more informed decisions about repairs and maintenance, saving time and money on costly repairs.
Did this work for you?
Use the comments form below to inform our community if this procedure worked in your car. If you have any tips feel free to share.
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I tried this method and it worked. I do it once a month
My 2014 E350 was not shifting up correctly and was making a scary noise. Tried this reset and it seems to have worked! Thanks for posting this!
1999 ML320, this would not go past second gear, and was slow to move from stop. Did the reset, works like new with 185000 miles
this work on a sprinter 2500 van
my 2008 mercedes smart car won’t go into drive or reverse. always says netural
Try quick shifting, it may sounds brutal but works on my 451 brabus! First you have to having it in drive mode and you shift it fast in reverse!
I hope this help
my 2008 smart car won’t go into d or R . only park & netural.
Intelligent servo module. ISM. Just had same occur on my ML but with a red warning drive to workshop without changing gears. As it was I turned it off, couldn’t re start so had to have it taken on flat bed to garage. They still have to put diagnostic on it but from research I’m expecting it to be the ISM.
Will update when I know.
My GL320 2009 Bluetech sometimes when down shifting is kicking but not all the time. Does this procedure help?
Thanks
Try it. It’s not going to hurt it.
Will it work on 2003 dodge (MB) sprinter 2500 van. It was in limp mode battery died cause it was sitting for 10 months, had buddy clear all codes now it shifts but not as smoothly as I remember. ..
Also I get a lot of rumble strip noise since getting it outta limp mode. Many if I drive around 30 mph…. before it would maybe make the noise for a second around 30mph now it stays rumbling until you accelerate past 30 or slow way down …one last thing in parking lots if I turn the wheel while moving at idle speed tach drops and seems like engine is almost gonna kill … I hear MB has a ecu and TCU both in my van
Hi, my 350 Gl Bluetech 2010 does the same, seems to be worse when it is hot outside. Been to 4 different Mercedes repair shops, but everybody says the car is find, and cannot cope with the problem. Give me a heads up if you solve the problem.
Mine is the same model and will sometimes shift hard into gear then won’t shift out of low. Did you fix this I yours??
I do this once a week in my 97 c230 with 356k miles on it now because my transmission is failing and it’s kept my car shifting normally as long as I reset it, been doing it for 100k now works great
2017 Sprinter 2500 v6 Turbo Diesel 5 speed auto, 2 months old and 8,000 kms. Engine became sluggish and upshifts hard, jarring especially 3 & 4. Tried your reset, Engine seems smoother and shifts smooth like new.
Thanks for the tip.
My 2002 E240 was experiencing sluggish performance and no kick down while in ” D”. I could still shift manually though. I followed the instructions for the transmission reset. All my tranmission issues habe been corrected. Thank you for this thorough and informative post.
My s430 4Matic is stuck in park and will not move.
1999 Mercedes w202 c180 r/h drive Australia does this work on Australian models as my merc’s tranny is all over the shot.
Sometimes shifting thenall o a sudden kick back to 3rd and not upshifting until 4500 rpm
This is a great car and my family car ,please can you help.
Yes it should work. Try it and see if it makes a difference. Otherwise, the valve body may be the problem.
Awesome simple easy to follow works a treat thanks heaps 👍👍
In what position should the stick be when reseting- P, N, R or D?
Park.
This helped solve a P0730 Gear rAtion Incorrect gear box problem. I was cornering a roundabout sharper than I normally do when there was a jolt, a pause for less than a second that felt like power loss, before the car went into Limp Home Mode. I was doing 5000 rpm at about 40 mph and trying to manually shift up a gear by pulling the gear stick towards me did nothing. There was no malfunction reported in the speedo when switching off. I checked the ODBII for fault codes and came across Pending Code: P0730 Gear Ratio Incorrect. I had the transmission serviced less than a year ago at 95,000 miles (now done 107,000 miles) so felt confident that the gear box was OK. I could selected Reverse and Neutral OK. I used this reset procedure and when I next drove the car a few hours later the gears shifted normally. Thanks for this tip
Pete,
Glad to hear this tip helped.
I did this reset and I found out that my gear box is more slow and change the gears abnormal. I loose power as well, don’t get it why. My it’s a E220, 14 plate.
It is not going to make your shifting abnormal. If your gear shifts are abnormal you have something else going on. Resetting the transmission shift points makes the transmission the same as when the car is out of the factory. Within 30 driving cycles, the ECU will monitor your driving habits and adapt the shifting points to your driving style.
This works! Much smoother shifts