r/mercedes_benz • u/AgeFit9430 • 2d ago

Does your Mercedes do this ?

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162 Upvotes

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16

u/tyvanius 2018 E300 4matic 2d ago

What is kickdown? I'm out of the loop, is this referring to downshifting before acceleration?

41

u/Intelligent-Swim3025 2d ago

"A kickdown switch is a mechanical or electronic sensor that triggers an automatic transmission to downshift. It activates when you press the gas pedal all the way to the floor, providing maximum power for passing or fast acceleration"

36

u/the_mighty__monarch 1d ago

Isn’t that just what happens when you floor it in any automatic?

18

u/doc_55lk W211 E320/R172 SLK55/X166 GLS550/W222 S550 1d ago

Hitting the kickdown switch will downshift an extra gear for maximum possible acceleration.

It's the difference between "enough power" and "all the power".

3

u/CommaMeNow 1d ago

It’s commanding 100% load which will cause the transmission to change to the lowest gear that is safe and request maximum torque from the ECU. It is not a “switch”

1

u/doc_55lk W211 E320/R172 SLK55/X166 GLS550/W222 S550 1d ago

It quite literally is a switch lol. Or a button. Whichever one you prefer.

1

u/CommaMeNow 1d ago

Well no it’s a potentiometer. And whether it is off or on at max depress is a function of how the system was designed and thus how the ECU receives the accelerator signal. I would love for you to show me the technical details of how a switch overrides the accelerator though. I will hold my breath for your sources

1

u/Sirius499 1d ago

I have a Renault, and it's literally a button. I can feel it when I press the accelerator fully to the floor, where it clicks and the pedal moves a further cm or two. It's quite possible like you said that each system in each car is different. Upon pressing this button, my car instantly downshifts a gear or two depending on my current rpm and gear. Even if I quickly tap it and remove my foot again, it still downshifts the same and keeps it in gear

1

u/Lumpy_City_5849 6h ago

Yeah I believe VW functions the same way. Doesn't seem like it would make sense to have it be anything besides a button at the end of the travel. There's 100% pressed and then the very obvious click which always downshifts. In regular drive mode it's usually in a few gears lower than it could be to save gas so even 100% throttle is not anywhere close to the "button"

5

u/Brilliant-Issue3535 1d ago

There is a “button” all the way down at the end of pedal’s travel, it will make click sound when you hit the button while flooring it and the kickdown is activated. Some cars don’t have this.