Donbrew is right - the solenoids COULD cause the problem you are having - but there is no direct evidence AT ALL, that the solenoids are at fault. And you are right in that the solenoids don't necessarily trip codes (due to drive cycles I suspect).

He is also right about it being rather futile discussing the issue until you get the actual codes downloaded and posted.

There are so many other codes and defective parts that can cause the hard shifting and T/C issues so suspecting the solenoids without any evidence to back it up is likely to result in you just throwing your money away.

 

Thanks for all of your responses and help so far. Codes

P0449
P0030
P0036
P0053
P0054
P0102
P0443

 

All of those codes together lead me to an electrical problem, most likely a fuse or 2 and/or a wire burned or frayed.

check under hood fuse #33 (controls all of the codes).

 

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0449

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0443

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0030

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0036

P0053 - OBD-II Trouble Code | BestRide.com

P0054 - OBD-II Trouble Code | BestRide.com

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0102

All these have a common denominator, electrical!
Loose or burnt fuses, loose or burnt ground wires!!
Loose connection, bent pins in the connections

 

If you find #33 is blown, find out why before you replace it. Probably a wire laying on the exhaust or rubbing on the engine.

 

Thanks don. I'll check both as soon as I get it back from my wife. She found a nursing job with one of her former employers where they promised she wouldn't have to do any lifting and she needs it to get back and forth to work since her 16 year old Benz is down, again. But she won't get rid of it because it was her late husband's.

If anybody wants to complain about GM, try working on and buying parts for a 16 year old Benz!

 

That's during the Chrysler debacle!

 

Yeah, she gets upset when I call it a Mercedes Dodge. :)

But I should have more respect for the Mopar name. My brothers stock 340 duster could dust my trans am. Mine had 140 on the speedometer and I was doing it when he went around me.

But, at the end of the day, mine was a trans am!

I can't say the current Mercedes is in any better shape than it was though, a friend bought a c class a few years ago and it's been in the shop for three years because they installed the wrong radio in it. Messed up every system in it. But she's content driving all the loaners they've given her because it's keeping the miles off of hers

 

Don, you are a genius! Fuse 33 is toast!

Thanks to everyone else too. Now I just have to go on a treasure hunt and find the likely assignable cause.

 

Did the new fuse poop out too?