Mercedes-Benz W212 722.6 automatic jerky shifts when cold
W212 722.6 automatic jerks when cold, what is the most common cause?
Often the cause is the transmission fluid: too little, old or poor quality. With a low fluid level a gear can engage before pressure is sufficient, and the car lurches. Check the fluid level and quality first.
How do you check and change the transmission fluid correctly?
The fluid level is checked on a warmed-up transmission whose fluid temperature must be exactly right (45 °C in the sources). The fluid should be changed to an approved grade, for example MB 236.14 approval. Leave the level adjustment to a workshop.
Is slow transmission behaviour when cold normal, and does adaptation help?
Cold fluid can make shifting slower, and it usually evens out as the transmission warms up. If there are no fault codes, a workshop can reset or teach the transmission adaptation with a diagnostic tool, which has improved shifting. If the fault remains, a control unit update or a valve replacement may help.