Where Should You Go in Bellingham For Fixing Your Mercedes’ TCM Failure?

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Carson Wileman

If you own a Mercedes, whether a roadster, sedan, cabriolet, SUV, or coupe, you already know what to expect. This luxury vehicle has the right balance between performance and elegance, and this is what makes it stand out in the car industry. However, if you find that the performance of your Mercedes is lagging, the acceleration isn’t as excellent as it used to be, gear shifting becomes harsh and/or uneven, or your vehicle isn’t as fuel efficient as before, this might be a clue that your TCM is failing. If the check engine light also comes on, this is a strong indication that you should have your TCM examined by a professional mechanic.

What is the TCM?

TCM means Transmission Control Module. It is the electrical device in charge of regulating the transmission in your Mercedes. In its most basic form, the transmission is how your automobile distributes engine power to the wheels, allowing it to run.

You can think of the transmission system as muscles and the TCM as a brain. The TCM is constantly receiving data from your automobile, delivering signals, and doing the required calculations to allow the transmission to select the appropriate gear to activate based on the conditions. The TCM collects and analyzes signals from the vehicle regarding the throttle and the brake settings, turbine speed,  transmission fluid, and other transmission components. It can also transmit signals to inform the driver of any possible problems with your car’s transmission system.

In general, the TCM works quietly and effectively in the background during the lifetime of your Mercedes. However, if you are unfortunate enough to have difficulties with your TCM, they must be rectified immediately.

When your TCM fails, your car may eventually be unable to change gears whenever it is necessary, and this might create further major problems with your transmission system and may lead to erratic gear shifting, possibly making your Mercedes hazardous to drive.

So, how can you tell if the TCM in your Mercedes is faulty? The following are the most frequent symptoms you may experience.

Typical signs of a defective TCM

• Erratic gear shifts: Whenever your Mercedes abruptly changes into a new gear or into neutral, that’s a solid indicator that your TCM is failing. In this case, your transmission might possibly shift to neutral at any time, even at high speeds, without notice. This sign of a defective TCM can be dangerous, so you should stop driving and take your car to a professional as soon as you notice it happening.
• Loss of Acceleration: When you accelerate, your Mercedes engine might appear to roar loudly while your RPM keeps increasing without an increase in your real speed. That is an indication that the transmission is having difficulty shifting into a higher gear.
• Difficulty in downshifting: If your Mercedes struggles to change gears downward, this might lead to hazardous difficulties that may cause your engine to overheat. If your automobile will not downshift, you need to have it towed to a service shop.
• Gears are jammed: In this case, your gears may become locked in one gear or stay in neutral. Clearly, if you get caught in reverse or park, this might be troublesome and necessitate a tow.
• Fuel economy falls: If your TCM is faulty, it can frequently manifest in decreased fuel efficiency as the car struggles to shift gears and use fuel efficiently.
• Check engine light: This one is self-explanatory, but it needs to be repeated. The check engine light on your dashboard should never be ignored. The TCM may detect possible transmission system faults and send a signal to notify you of them. Once the check engine light illuminates in combination with any other symptoms listed above, the TCM may be experiencing issues. Your best bet is to take your vehicle to a professional mechanic for diagnostic and repair.

Keith Cox Autobahn Can Repair The Faulty TCM In Your Mercedes

Keith Cox Autobahn has highly qualified ASE-certified technicians with years of experience on hand to assess and repair any problems with your vehicle’s TCM. Call us now or come to our shop in Bellingham, WA.  We are excited to give you our best service!