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Matt
Matt, Mechanical Engineer
Category: Mercedes
Satisfied Customers: 22918
Experience:  BEng hons Mech engineering, in auto industry 22 years
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Is it possible to reduce the force needed to engage reverse

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Is it possible to reduce the force needed to engage reverse gear in Mercedes Benz c200 cdi manual. (My wife has great difficulty in putting the car in reverse)
Matt
Hello

the first thing to do is bleed the clutch hydraulics and ensure that you replenish the all fluid in the system and get any trapped air out

I favour having a clear hose from the nipple to a jar 1/2 full of old fluid and with the nipple closed your assistant pushes the pedal up and down a few times, then holds it down whilst you then crack open the nipple and close it again whilst fluid is still flowing.

If this doesn't help then next check the gear linkage for any worn bushes or pivots as any lost motion means reduced effort at the gearbox and replace as necessary. Ideally have your assistant move the gear lever with you watching the linkage and see if you can spot where there is any excessive play or lost motion.

Then check gearbox oil levels and if its not been changed in the last 20K miles then drain it off and fill with fresh. I can strongly recommend the use of Castrol Syntrans 75W90 (was called SMX-S) as I've known it help with shift issues on many manual gearboxes
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Customer: replied 3 years ago.

Hi the car in question has 35,000Klm on the clock so wear is most unlikely.

Is it possible to obtain a gear lever extension which should solve the problem.?

Do Mercedes-Benz supply such an item?

Hello

Ok thanks for the extra information

still well worth bleeding the clutch hydraulics as they absorb air over time and this means the pedal has to be pushed further than normal and its possible the clutch isn't being full disengaged - thi swill make gear selection difficult

a longer gear lever would help as you've rightly surmised but there's no official MB part - the only route is to fit a large aftermarket gear knob which can be a inch or so taller thatn the standard item
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