CLA45 AMG lost power in manual during overtake - problem?

[CLA45 AMG]

Hi All,

I recently bought a new CLA45 AMG which is superb but have a question I thought you guys might be able to answer...

I was on a nice B road the other day and decided to overtake a car, I put it in manual mode, dropped a gear using the paddles and then put my foot down. As I was accelerating and passing this car I lost all power and the dash showed ^2

Now is this a problem I should speak to the dealer about or is it expected if pushed too hard. The car shifts down if it needs to - I would expect it to shift up as it does in sports mode if it requires it when red lining?? I was surprised buy this not to mention how dangerous it is to lose power when overtaking on a single lane!

What do you guys think?

Thanks for your help/advice.

Regards

Paul

[ecain63]

In manual mode you have to shift up! It will only downshift for you, not upshift. That's what the red flashing ^2 means. Shift up! If you were trying an overtake in 1st gear then you were in the wrong gear, simples. 1st gear is too short. If you don't the car hits the limiter and you will lose power. Ideally you want to be shifting up somewhere between 4.5k and 5krpm in the 2.0T ClA and A45. How many miles you got on the car?

[CLA45 AMG]

Hi ecin63

Thanks for your reply

I think I was in 4th doing around 50ish when I dropped it into manual. Didn't think I was pushing that hard and because I was watching the road and not the dash I was surprised it lost power during an overtake when I was on the other side of the road. Also thought it was a bit dangerous.

So it's expected and not a fault. I am sure my last merc I just got rid of changed up if it needed to but that wasn't an AMG - maybe it didn't.

I have done 2.5k so far - I did follow the dealers recommendation by running it in for 1k miles - I have only tried race start i de and that was at 2k miles - was fun though.

Thanks again for your post

Regards
Paul

[ecain63]

It would have said ^5 then and not ^2. You still need remember to shift up before 6krpm or you will get that sudden loss of power due to the limiter kicking in. I've done it a few times by accident so youre not alone. If you are not used to using the manual option maybe try using it 100% of the time until you are. I use manual throughout unless im in heavy traffic and ive got to know the way the car sounds and feels and can change up or down just by those senses. Makes for a much more fun car when you are more in tune with its ways. I did the same with my M5 when i had it and loved it, despite the tales of woe from other owners regarding the SMG box.

Go forth and enjoy.

[CLA45 AMG]

Thanks ecain63 - sorry for the typo's my iPad hasn't been the same since I upgraded to IOS8

it's strange because I definitely wasn't in 1st and it said ^2 - I thought it meant up two gears. Oh well, will carry on driving in manual and getting used to it.

Thanks again

Paul

[MX-5 Lazza]

Maybe you started in 4th then changed down a couple of gear instead of up?

[Charliesum]

Is it like all amgs other slush boxes where you have to shift up 2secs before you should do or is this new box better ?

[ecain63]

Charliesum said:

Is it like all amgs other slush boxes where you have to shift up 2secs before you should do or is this new box better ?

Edited by Charliesum on Monday 13th October 10:41

No it should be near instantaneous. It's the same box as the SLS and 458 italia. Latest software is from the SLS GT I think.

[cho]

I would err on the side of caution and double check with dealer. Not really sure what you mean by losing power. I take that to mean something akin to the engine shutting down and not what normally happens when you hit the limiter which is speed staying constant as you continually bounce of the limiter. Also I would want to know what the ^2 meant. Was it where the number if the gear is normally displayed? You might have kicked down to 2nd gear but that doesn't explain a loss of power

[Charliesum]

I'm guessing the loss of power will be hitting the Rev limiter as previously pointed out.
It does seem that he went into kick down then changed to manual and ran out of revs which does indeed hit a dead wall

[MagicMike]

Ha ha, nice to see you on here mate, we really should be getting on with work, not spending time on this forum!

Ecain63 (Eddie) is very knowledgeable, just don't get involved in uprating, otherwise he'll take you to another world :

We should put up the vid of us revving the cars in the underground car park....