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Certain models of Mercedes-Benz can sometimes face serious mechanical troubles. A particularly common challenge with the Mercedes brand is gear selector issues, where the vehicle’s gear selector grinds, jerks, or even refuses to shift.
Below is important information about potential causes of gear selector failure, how you can find out if your Mercedes’ selector is failing, and what you should do if it is.
A variety of factors can cause problems with your Mercedes’ gear selector. The first and perhaps most common of these factors is natural wear and tear. Your car’s gear selector is part of its transmission, and as durable as your transmission may be, its gears and cables aren’t designed to last indefinitely.
Regular maintenance can help prevent your vehicle’s transmission from wearing out too quickly, but it will wear out eventually. This can cause huge issues with your gear selector, not to mention the rest of your vehicle, if not addressed in a timely manner.
Another potential cause of gear selector issues is valve body failure. In automatic transmissions, the valve body allows hydraulic transmission fluid to flow through the system, thus enabling easy gear shifting. If the valve body wears down or breaks, it can disrupt the flow of hydraulic transmission fluid, making gear shifting much more difficult. If this happens, the valve body will almost certainly need to be replaced.
Also, a broken or worn-down gear selector cable might cause issues with your vehicle’s gear selector. This cable (or cables, if your vehicle has manual transmission) connects your gear selector to the rest of its transmission, allowing the selector to change the gears. If the cable binds up, it will make it much more difficult for you to shift gears, and if the cable breaks, your vehicle will refuse to change gears entirely. Gear selector cable problems are more common in vehicles with manual transmissions, but can certainly happen with automatic transmissions as well.
A final common cause of gear selector problems in a Mercedes is manufacturing issues. Unfortunately, as sleek and well-made as Mercedes-Benz models typically are, they can still be susceptible to manufacturing errors, including a lack of transmission testing.
It is worth noting that transmission issues due to manufacturing errors are common enough in Mercedes-Benz models that some drivers have tried to sue the company over them. Therefore, if you have a Mercedes, you should pay close attention to the quality of your gear selector and your transmission overall.
There are several tried-and-true symptoms you can look for to determine if your Mercedes’ gear selector needs repairs.
Typically, the first signs that your gear selector may be failing are grinding or clicking noises when you shift gears. In addition, the selector may jerk or struggle when changing gears or refuse to shift from “drive” into “reverse.”
Less common but still significant, symptoms of gear selector issues may include the transmission failing to engage when you shift gears or your vehicle’s gear indicator needle being misaligned.
If you notice the above symptoms but do not respond to them quickly enough, your vehicle may soon develop more severe problems than a grinding gear selector. Because a faulty gear selector often indicates larger transmission problems, failing to address the above symptoms can sometimes lead to significant transmission issues, such as slipping from one gear to another.
Ultimately, a damaged transmission can completely destroy your vehicle’s ability to function. Therefore, if you notice early warning signs that your vehicle’s gear selector is failing, you should address the problem right away to save you the headache as well as expense.
If you’re having problems with the gear selector in your Mercedes, 
your best course of action is taking your vehicle to a professional. Luckily, Euro Plus Automotive has plenty of experience handling gear selector issues in Mercedes-Benz models.
For over 30 years, customers in Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA have relied on us to keep their luxury vehicles in excellent shape. We know how to maintain, repair, and restore the German vehicles. We would love to help you keep your Mercedes running smoothly for all your future needs. Give our professional mechanics a call today and set up a convenient appointment.
Many different types of fluid are required in order for any vehicle to run properly. One of the most vital of these fluids is transmission fluid. As such, a leak in your vehicle’s transmission is detrimental to the overall health of your car. It’s important to have your car routinely inspected and maintained in order to avoid the catastrophic effects of a transmission leak.
This routine care is even more important in a Mercedes-Benz because this luxury brand tends to experience more transmission leaks than other brands. As the proud owner of a Mercedes-Benz, you expect your vehicle to fulfill its promise of both a sharp, classic design and revolutionary performance. Knowing your vehicle’s predisposition to transmission leaks allows you to take the extra precautionary measures to keep these leaks from occurring.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of transmission fluid, reveal easily-spotted signs of a transmission leak, and give you some advice on how to fix it.
Transmission fluid is vital in ensuring that the many different parts of your transmission are well lubricated and able to function properly. These components include the torque converter, valve body, and planetary gear set. Because the transmission is made up of so many different parts, a leak could come from virtually anywhere inside the transmission. Normally, a leak occurs when one of the valves, seals, pumps, or transmission fluid lines are damaged. Transmission fluid is light reddish-brown in color, so be careful not to confuse it with your car’s power-steering fluid, which looks very similar.
It’s very important to maintain your transmission fluid by having the fluid routinely flushed and replaced. You should also regularly check the cleanliness of the fluid itself. By taking these preventative steps, you will either help to stop a leak from ever occurring or you will notice a leak and have it quickly repaired before it causes any harm to your Mercedes Benz.
Sometimes, maintenance isn’t enough and a leak occurs anyway due to a puncture somewhere in your vehicle’s transmission. You should always be on the lookout for any of these 4 signs of a transmission leak. If you observe any of them, you should have the issue inspected, diagnosed, and fixed as soon as possible.
The most obvious sign that your Mercedes has a leak is a puddle of fluid underneath your car. Since this leak could be attributed to any one of the types of fluid used by your vehicle, you should quickly ascertain the type of fluid and where the leak is coming from so that you can have it repaired.
If there is a significant spike in the amount of heat your engine is producing, this could also be due to a transmission leak. Because transmission fluid helps to cool down the transmission while it’s moving, if there isn’t enough transmission fluid, then your car’s transmission will overheat.
Another sign of a transmission leak is that your car noticeably stumbles, hesitates, or jerks when you attempt to accelerate.
Being unable to shift gears is a serious problem that cripples your vehicle’s ability to function. Because the transmission aids in the shifting process, any difficulties with shifting gears may be attributed to a leak of transmission fluid.
At Euro Plus Automotive, our highly-trained mechanics specialize in 
the service and repair of German and Japanese luxury vehicles, such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Acura, and Lexus. We recognize the importance of providing proper maintenance and care to your vehicle. We only offer the best service at the best prices. If you want to take preventative measures against transmission leaks or if you need a transmission leak diagnosed and repaired, we are here to help.
We are conveniently located for drivers in and around the Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA areas. Whether you’re experiencing issues with your vehicle’s transmission or are in need of any other type of car service or repair, please call Euro Plus Automotive and set up an appointment today. We are eager to become your trusted Mercedes Benz service center.
Keeping your Mercedes routinely maintained is essential to preventing issues such as aluminum fuse failure. This, unfortunately, is one of the most common problems that arise in Mercedes-Benz vehicles and one that has an increasingly high risk of occurring as the vehicle ages.
The fuse is a device that protects your vehicle’s electrical components and wiring in case of a fault. Possible faults include a positive voltage shorting to ground or a damaged component. When a fault occurs, the power that is being supplied to the component must immediately be disconnected, since this is one of the most common causes behind automotive fires.
To protect against such accidents, circuit breakers are incorporated into every single component that comprises your vehicle, many of them housed in one or two central locations called the fuse box. Some vehicles have several fuse boxes in various locations within the vehicle body, but it is most common to have them centralized in as few spaces as possible.
Because the aluminum fuse is responsible for the regulation of electrical components in your vehicle, some of the first things you’ll notice in the event of its failure are the lack of functionality or reduced efficiency of certain vehicle features. This can manifest in a lack of power being delivered to your windshield wipers, automatic locks, windows, radio, or doors.
As soon as you begin to notice such symptoms, it is imperative that you get your Mercedes looked at by a professional as soon as possible, as these issues can become very dangerous, especially in the case of malfunctioning locks.
One of the major reasons behind aluminum fuse failure in Mercedes vehicles is corrosion. When the aluminum and copper parts are in close proximity to one another for an extended period, they exacerbate the potential for one another to fail. This possibility is enhanced by external elements, such as heat and moisture from condensation buildup. The tip of the fuse, the part that transmits power to all pieces connected, begins to corrode in such an environment and eventually becomes useless. The longer the fuse is exposed to such conditions, the worse these effects will be. This is why it is more common to see this failure in older vehicles.
Of course, apart from this, failure of the aluminum fuse may stem from manufacturing issues as well. Such a fault can be made worse by risky driving behaviors, but don’t feel singled out. It is common for owners of high-performance vehicles to push their engines to the limit of its engineering. After all, that’s part of the reason you chose it. Still, when harsh driving conditions and habits are paired with irregular maintenance, this can spell disaster, especially for a component that is not readily observed by the driver.
Unfortunately, there is not much to be done on the driver’s part that can reliably prevent the failure of the aluminum fuse. In reality, it all comes down to the efficiency of the engineering that went into the construction of the vehicle, and its age. Unless you keep your Mercedes in a closed garage, under a car cover, and around 70 degrees at all times, the aluminum fuse will inevitably be exposed to environmental conditions that are less than ideal. Its use over time will result in some type of wear that will contribute to its eventual failure.
Luckily, the aluminum fuse is not a terribly complex component to be replaced, though it is never suggested that you undertake such a task alone. Any electrical problem with your vehicle must be diagnosed and solved by a trusted repair shop which is able to get the job done correctly without further damaging the electrical components of your vehicle.
Replacement of the aluminum fuse 
is not too invasive of a repair, but it is not one to be taken lightly. When repairing such a vital component, you should always enlist the help of an expert mechanic. The mechanics of Euro Plus Automotive are here to help. Since 1984, Euro Plus Automotive has been the valley’s import specialist, focusing on German and Japanese vehicles and providing all the services available to you at a dealership for only a fraction of the price. Our repairs are backed by a 2-year/24,000-mile parts and labor warranty. Fill out this form to schedule an appointment or drop by any one of our locations at Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA.
Mercedes is a luxury brand that works to set the standards for all other vehicles in the areas of comfort and performance. With each Mercedes, you will see a unique design from the sleek exterior to the plush interior. You will ride in elegance and in comfort. Owning a Mercedes is something that you have earned and something you deserve. However, as your Mercedes gets older, it will require more than the normal maintenance schedule. One part that has the potential of failing is the oil pressure switch. Below, you will learn what the oil pressure switch is and the signs that indicate it has failed.
The oil pressure switch is the part that is responsible for indicating to you that the engine’s oil has fallen below the level that is critical for optimal performance. The oil warning light will illuminate on the dashboard of your Mercedes when it needs to be replaced. Without this, the engine can become damaged and need expensive repairs. The oil pressure switch is what tells the oil warning light to turn on.
Due to the fact that each make and model of Mercedes are different, there are a couple of different places that the oil pressure switch could be located. The oil pressure switch can be found in either the cylinder block of the engine or in the oil filter housing. The oil pressure switch can either begin in the closed or open position. If your Mercedes has an oil pressure switch that begins in the closed position, then once the oil pressure drops below the preset critical level, the connectors inside the switch will disconnect and become open. This will then cause the dashboard warning light to come on. If your Mercedes has an oil pressure switch that begins in the open position, then it works the opposite way. Once the oil pressure gets below the level it should be at then the switch connectors will close and the dashboard warning light will illuminate.
The first two signs that will point to an oil pressure switch failure have to do with the oil pressure warning light on the dashboard. As previously stated, the oil pressure warning light will illuminate when there is something wrong with the oil pressure. So if you go to refill the engine oil and find that it is completely full or still full enough to where it would not set off the warning light, then the oil pressure switch could have failed. When the oil pressure switch has failed, then it will give off incorrect readings.
If the oil pressure warning light is blinking on and off, then this is another sign that the oil pressure switch is failing. This can be very alarming to you as a driver because you will need to spend a lot of time constantly checking the oil level. If the oil pressure switch has failed or is beginning to fail by constantly blinking, then it will not give the proper reading. If the warning light gets to this point, then it is best to replace the switch as soon as possible so you do not have to worry about your Mercedes giving you incorrect readings.
A third sign that will point to an oil pressure switch failure is the oil pressure gauge is consistently at zero. If you have a newer Mercedes model, your oil pressure gauge is electrical. So when the oil pressure switch fails, the gauge can jump from zero to full then in between at any moment. It becomes impossible to trust the readings that are being put forth.
The oil pressure switch is an important part of your Mercedes. It is used 
to tell you critical information that can cause serious damage to the engine.
When you notice any of the signs that were stated above, then you know that it is time to have the switch replaced. Here at Euro Plus Automotive, we will be able to replace that failed oil pressure switch in a quick and efficient way.
We are conveniently accessible from the areas of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA. You will be able to get an appointment with one of our certified and trained technicians. We use tools that are up to date and specific to Mercedes in order to properly diagnose the issue with the oil pressure switch. We will get you back on the road as soon as possible with a safe vehicle from a garage you can trust.
As most of us know, maintenance goes a long way towards building a long relationship with your luxury car. Mercedes are designed with a strict set of standards to give owners excellence in performance. However, even a Mercedes automobile naturally requires inspection on a regular basis to ensure that it is performing as anticipated. One of the key features all maintenance checks should cover in your Mercedes is glow plugs and the corresponding timer failure.
In this article, we will discuss the glow plug and the timer, explain why they can sometimes fail, and discuss how you can detect glow plug and timer failures early on to take action in protecting yourself and your car.
The glow plug is the heating device that helps start your diesel engine. It serves a similar role as spark plugs in gasoline engines, which may be a more familiar part to most car owners.
Unlike gasoline engines, diesel engines compress intake air to reach the top dead center (TDC). At that point, the engine injects the diesel, the mixture of fuel and air evaporates, and the engine starts. This system performs as long as the compression temperature is high enough. The glow plug is what ensures your car engine can meet the temperature needed.
In Mercedes cars, glow plugs come with a timer that determines how long the plugs will stay on. The timer makes sure the plugs stay on long enough to warm the engine cylinders properly, but not too long that the plugs are damaged.
Like all the other components in your Mercedes, the glow plug and timer both suffer general wear-and-tear issues over time. Your engine may put out too high a voltage that “burns” the glow plugs. Also, continual exposure to heat also damages the glow plugs. Think about your glow plugs like light bulbs: they are turned on everyday and will eventually suffer heat erosion. The longer the heat lasts, the more damage it causes.
Luckily, it’s easy to detect failing glow plugs and timer. Below are the 3 major symptoms that tell you to check the glow plug and timer:
Hard to start
A problematic glow plug can’t provide the heat to start the engine. A faulty timer, on the other hand, causes the plugs to operate at wrong intervals. This happens more often in cold weather, as low external temperatures put more stress on the engine. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts before the engine will start. Other times, it may not start at all.
Glow plug light comes on
If the system detects problems with the glow plugs or the timer, the light will come on as a warning. If the light stays on after you have started your car, it also means that something may be wrong with the glow plugs and/or the timer.
Check engine light is on
At this point, something is definitely not right. When the check engine light comes on, it is strongly recommended that you bring your car in for a service. The check engine light comes on when there are issues with the circuit or signals related to the glow plug or the timer. By now, you would have noticed your car behaving oddly. It may be that it’s been difficult to get the engine running or it may be other symptoms. Even so, the check engine light doesn’t always signal a faulty glow plug or timer. It can be related to a variety of problems and failures, which is why it is important to have your Mercedes checked out as soon as possible.
The Mercedes specialists at Euro Plus Automotive have been serving 
the area of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County in California for over 30 years. The trained experts here dedicate their careers to helping drivers caring for their high-end vehicles.
Euro Plus Automotive puts your mind at ease with years of experience in glow plugs and timer maintenance. These are some of the parts most crucial to your engine, and they should receive the top-grade services. Euro Plus Automotive at Canoga Park provides customers with unprecedented services, where ASE-certified mechanics offer outstanding services with latest materials and technologies.
Power window failure can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially in a luxury car like a Mercedes. A failing power window in a Mercedes is characterized by a window that simply won’t roll up or down when pressing the window button. This can be caused by a number of things, including a communication error between the window motor and window button. Other reasons for a failing power window in a Mercedes are faulty wiring, malfunctioning switches, and overheated window motors. Power windows can fail unexpectedly and without warning, so it’s important to be familiar with some of the most common causes of a failing power window in a Mercedes in the event that this happens to you. In this article, we’ll outline some common reasons for a failing power window in a Mercedes.
A failing power window is characterized by a number of abnormal occurrences when attempting to operate a power window, such as the inability to open or close the window with the button, an odd noise that occurs when attempting to operate the window, having the window glass tilt to one side or complete power window failure. Here are some reasons for a failing power window in a Mercedes.
Behind the scenes, most functions of hardware in your Mercedes are made possible by wire connections to different motors and power supplies in the vehicle. If the power window is failing by working sometimes and not others or has stopped working completely, the failure may be caused by damaged or broken wires which results in a disrupted connection between the systems which facilitate power window function. Wire connections can be disrupted, damaged, or broken due to a number of issues within the electrical system in the vehicle, so it’s important to take your Mercedes in for service if you suspect any issues with the wire connections in your vehicle.
In some cases, the motor that is responsible for moving the window up and down can overheat. When this happens, the power window may experience an intermittent or complete failure. If this is the only issue you may regain full control of the power window, but in any case, you should have this checked out. It’s abnormal for power window motors to overheat, so there may be another underlying issue causing this problem.
Sometimes the cause of power window failure in a Mercedes is something as simple as a faulty power window switch. This is characterized by a specific switch or switches failing to operate the power window, which may be caused by the hardware or wiring of the switch. This can be a simple fix, but may also indicate more extensive failure within the electrical components of your Mercedes. In order to rule out any other issues with the vehicle, you should take your Mercedes to a qualified specialist to rule out any other issues.
The mechanisms that allow you to lower and raise the windows in your Mercedes are the window regulators, which can fail for a number of reasons. For example, if you try to operate the power window and its movement is obstructed by ice or debris, it could damage the window regulator and lead to power window failure. 
If you notice a clicking noise or a change in speed when operating the power windows in your Mercedes, the window regulator may be failing. If the power window is moving more to one side than the other, a failing window regulator may be to blame. Window regulators are an important component of any vehicle and are easily replaceable.
At Euro Plus Automotive, we understand the importance of having fully operational power windows in a Mercedes, for safety and comfort reasons. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of power window failure in your Mercedes, come in and see why we’re the most trusted import specialists in Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, California. We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality of service to our clients, so if you’ve noticed any problems with the power windows in your Mercedes, please call us and see why we’re regarded as the best import specialists in California.
The Mercedes Benz is a luxury vehicle that many dream of owning. They are known as beautiful, reliable vehicles, so once you invest in one it is important to keep it operating in peak condition. Even when something relatively minor goes wrong, you’ll want it taken care of quickly.
Regardless of the type of car you have, you want it to perform at the height of its abilities and help make your life more convenient. When you own a nicer, more luxurious car, you want that to perform at an even higher level, one that Mercedes is known for presenting. However, even well-made, beautiful cars–like a Mercedes–are prone to real-world problems. One of these is an issue with the vacuum door lock.
A problem with the vacuum door lock can be dangerous–mostly to the belongings in your car, rather than your safety. The lack of functioning door lock means that the door will not lock, and others could access your car when it’s left unattended.
One of most common reasons that the vacuum door lock fails is because of a leaking actuator. The actuator is the part of your car that is responsible for operating the actual door locks.
Another common issue is that the vacuum pump fails, leading to a failure in the door lock itself. Essentially, this crucial component creates a vacuum that causes the lock mechanisms to move. When this fails, it prevents the door lock from working correctly. Also, the older a system is (so if you have an older car) the more likely that the locking system could fail, as wear and tear will take its toll and make failure more common. As your car ages, make sure you’re paying attention to whether or not your door locks are responding as they should.
While it’s probably a better idea to just call a professional mechanic, you can also take a crack at fixing the issue yourself. It requires opening the hood, and disconnecting the three key lines that connect the vacuum. Blowing and sucking air out of the each of the key lines indicates whether the line is still good; if you can blow and suck, the line is shot and needs to be replaced. The next step requires a hand vacuum and replacement of the lines.
Just because you’re aware that this problem could happen doesn’t mean that you know how to find it, or that you’ll know what to look for when it happens. The door locks are unlikely to stop working at once; rather, the doors will begin to fail systemically. Essentially, this means that the passenger door may stop working before the driver’s side. The fact that the one door stops working is a good indication that the door locks have started to be impacted by age or other damage, and it might be a good idea to take the car to a trusted repair shop before the rest of the doors become problematic.
Because actuators are expensive to replace, it’s a good idea to make sure that the vacuum door lock is the broken item. When in doubt, a mechanic or dealer should be able to answer this question. There are ways you can check yourself, but if you’re not sure you can do it properly, you should seek professional help.
Seeking a trusted mechanic is always a safe bet, especially when you’re dealing with an expensive and luxurious car. That’s why Euro Plus Automotive is ready to deal with any and all of your car needs. We understand the safety and care that you want invested in your car, and we want to make sure that we treat it with the care that it deserves. Our specialist technicians are trained to work with all German and Japanese vehicles, including your prized Mercedes.
We have been offering dealership-quality care at affordable prices, and have been serving the San Fernando Valley for over 3 decades. Convenient to Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA, we’re prepared to take on any challenge that you send our way.
* Mercedes Benz Logo image credit goes to: SUNG YOON JO.
Mercedes Benz is a name that carries the weight of elite status, particularly here in the US. The name makes us picture elegance and luxury, and if you own a Mercedes Benz, you know that is accurate.
What you may not know is that they may suffer from an infamous transmission problem with that very car that awards them so much status. The 13-pin electrical connector in the automatic transmission may leak transmission fluid. Over time, leaking fluid migrates through the wiring harness and damages the transmission control module, causing the car to lose communication with the valve body. This problem is common with Mercedes Benz cars from 1998 up to 2008.
Often people and even mechanics misdiagnose transmission problems, thinking they need a new valve body or even transmission. In reality, the problem is often that the transmission connector plug leaks oil at the rubber O rings. So before you do anything else to your car, replace this plug and add transmission oil to eliminate this common problem. It is a simple task you can do yourself.
The key is to catch this early. Newer models have double O rings which are much more resilient to leaks. If you do not catch it before too much fluid has leaked onto the control module, you will have to replace the entire control module and harness.
There are at least two issues that can cause leaks in the pin connector in Mercedes Benz cars. The first is that one of the 13 pins can break off. A break like this prevents the connector from holding in place correctly and invites the possibility of transmission fluid leaks. In a pinch, some owners have tried to replace it with a hypodermic needle that has been cut to size and superglued around the base. That is not an ideal fix, but it may buy you some time until you can get to a specialty European auto mechanic, such as Euro Plus Automotive.
The second cause of pin connector leaks is the degradation of the O ring. If it is not clean and snug in place, or if it has worn thin, it needs a replacement. Again, the key to keeping these maintenance costs low is early diagnosis and prevention. Once the fluid has damaged the control module, the costs for repair and replacement rise significantly.
If early detection is the key to taking care of 13 Pin Connector problems, what are the symptoms to let you know something is going wrong?
All the symptoms are transmission related. Your transmission may go into “limp mode.” Shifting can become stuck, or it can become erratic. Eventually, the problem grows from hard shifting to no shifting at all. If you start to notice problems shifting smoothly, especially in engines built 1998-2008, get your 13-pin connector checked out immediately.
Sometimes, if you catch the problem early enough. When you first notice transmission trouble, try this:
1. Pull over and turn your car off. Remove the key.
2. Do not press any pedals or other buttons on the car.
3. Wait at least 20 seconds.
4. Restart the car and drive it again to see if it is out of limp mode.
You can also take a look at the 13-pin connector and see what is looks like — are all the pins still there? Does the O ring appear to be in good shape? If you spot any issues or don’t understand what you’re looking at, it’s time to get it to the shop for an expert to take a look.
While the 13-pin connector O ring may be a weak spot in the transmission of Mercedes Benz, the transmission itself, mainly those built 1998-2008 are still among the best built. The key is proper maintenance and getting it checked out as soon as you notice the early symptoms. If you live in Los Angeles County, CA or the San Fernando Valley, particularly near Canoga Park or Woodland Hills, come speak with our expert service technicians at Euro Plus Automotive. We have years of experience on European vehicles, so we can diagnose the problem and get you back out on the road as soon as possible.
* Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG image credit goes to: kurmyshov.
Mercedes cars come in a range of different sizes and shapes in the various models they offer. Depending on the type of terrain the car will drive on and the purpose of the vehicle, different cars, and Mercedes for that matter, have different features and parts that contribute to executing the specific performance function of that particular vehicle. For instance, an off-road vehicle will have a very different structure than a four-door sedan because they serve different purposes. The Mercedes G-Class for example is equipped with a locking differential to specifically handle off-road terrain.
All vehicles have differentials, as they’re essential to making the wheels turn. If you’re not familiar with what a locking differential is or does for your own Mercedes, then you’re not alone—many drivers struggle with automotive terminology. This article will briefly go over what a locking differential does, why it’s important to maintain properly, and how you can find the care you need for your Mercedes-Benz.
When you hear the word “differential,” think of “different.” The differential is part 
of the drivetrain of a car which simply allows the wheels to rotate at two different speeds. In certain cars, like all-wheel-drive cars and the Mercedes G-Class, they’re equipped with what is called locking differentials, where more than one differential are at work to keep your car’s wheels maximally gripped to the ground, better handling difficult, rocky, or unstable terrain. Differentials must be properly maintained in order to perform optimally. The most important aspect of differential care is maintaining its fluid. Differential fluid is critical for the intricate parts within the differential system which require continual lubrication to work properly. When this fluid becomes contaminated or runs dry, it can cause serious problems with your Mercedes’ differential functionality.
As previously mentioned, it is critical to keep your differential in working order at all times to ensure your car’s optimal performance. However, there are other reasons for regular fluid changes that are often overlooked.
Should you ever see the day that you require a differential replacement, you’ll want to avoid it at all costs—literally. The price of replacing your car’s differential is not something most people keep in a piggy bank. Depending on the type of car and the need for additional repair, it can cost anywhere from hundreds to over a thousand dollars.
If your car’s differential isn’t working properly, it can have a significant affect on your car’s performance, which makes your car essentially useless. Regardless of how well-maintained the other parts of your car are, without a properly maintained differential, your car won’t even be able to travel up a hill let alone go off-roading. When you attempt to resell your car, the value will be significantly reduced with a damaged or broken differential.
Maintaining your differential is important for your safety for a number of reasons. In the most important moments is usually when car trouble arises, so it’s better to take precautionary steps to prevent disaster. The locking differential on your Mercedes is important to maintain with regular fluid changes because without proper lubrication a lot of things can go wrong, leaving you susceptible to causing an accident. If you notice any performance differences in your Mercedes, it’s critical to have it checked out by a professional Mercedes mechanic immediately.
The most common signs that a differential is failing or one of the components is failing are important to look out for in your Mercedes. If you begin to hear odd noises while turning, or experience any vibrating or rattling while turning, it could be related to a differential issue. Contact a trusted Mercedes service center nearby to schedule a differential diagnosis as soon as possible.
The Mercedes experts here at Euro Plus Automotive have served the communities of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and the greater Los Angeles County, CA for nearly 3 decades, and they’ve seen it all. On top of our experience, knowledge, and skill to prove our dedication to automotive repair, we passionately approach customer service with honesty and integrity. We are familiar with many types of differentials and their common issues, including that of Mercedes-Benz in particular. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms in your Mercedes, please call us right away to schedule a diagnostic appointment.
* White Mercedes-Benz G-Class image credit goes to: Snap2Art_RF.
Euro Plus Automotive specializes in maintenance, services, & repairs with certified technicians and cutting-edge tools & equipment for European vehicles including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, & more as well as Japanese cars like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, & more.
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