Sprinter2022
RVF Newbee
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2026
- Messages
- 4
Hi everyone,
I'm hoping someone here can help because I'm honestly running out of ideas.
It's a long story.
I have a 2022 Sprinter 2500 AWD that has been converted into an RV. I purchased the van in 2023, but it spent a long time being converted into an RV, so it only has about 3,000 km on it.
At end of May, I was on a trip when I suddenly had a transmission problem. The van would not shift and can not drive, had to be towed to a Mercedes service center.
After about 3 weeks, the service center replaced the valve body and the Intelligent Shift Module (ISM). That appeared to fix the original transmission problem.
However, during their road test after completing the transmission repair, the service center noticed a new problem: a noticeable shudder/vibration, mainly under acceleration and load.
I did not experience this shudder before the original breakdown, and I was not the one who first noticed it. The service center discovered it during their road test after the transmission repair.
Since then, they have been trying to fix the shudder without success. The van has now been at the Mercedes service center for more than 3 months.
From what I understand, they have been focusing on the driveshaft/driveline. They have tried removing spacers, adding spacers, etc. At one point the shudder actually became worse, then after another adjustment it improved somewhat, but it is definitely still there.
At this point I'm starting to wonder if they haven't properly identified the root cause.
There is one other thing that makes me wonder if it could be related.
When the van was originally towed to the Mercedes service center, it was NOT transported on a flatbed (please see the photo). The front wheels were lifted, while the rear wheels remained on the ground and rotated during the tow.
The tow truck driver told me that he had disconnected the rear-wheel drive before towing it.
I have no idea whether the towing procedure actually caused any damage, and this is only my suspicion. But since the shudder was discovered after the original transmission problem was repaired, I can't help wondering whether the towing process could have caused some kind of damage to the drivetrain, driveshaft, differential, or another component.
Could a VS30 AWD be safely towed this way if the rear drivetrain was properly disconnected? Or is there a possibility that something could still have been damaged during the tow?
I'm wondering if this could be related to (after I study the posts here):
What really caught my attention is that the service center has been adjusting spacers in the driveshaft area. That makes me wonder if there may be some kind of driveline geometry issue.
Mercedes-Benz Canada is also involved now, but after more than 3 months at the Mercedes service center, there is still no clear diagnosis or repair plan.
At this point, I would really appreciate any ideas from people who have experience with these vans. If someone can suggest a test, a possible cause, or a repair that actually solves this kind of problem, it would not only help me — it could also help Mercedes figure this one out. They seem to be running out of options after more than three months.
I don't want to keep replacing or adjusting parts until something magically works. I would really like to find the actual cause and get my van back!
If anyone has experienced something similar, especially on a VS30 AWD, I would really appreciate hearing what the problem turned out to be and how it was fixed.
Thanks!
I'm hoping someone here can help because I'm honestly running out of ideas.
It's a long story.
I have a 2022 Sprinter 2500 AWD that has been converted into an RV. I purchased the van in 2023, but it spent a long time being converted into an RV, so it only has about 3,000 km on it.
At end of May, I was on a trip when I suddenly had a transmission problem. The van would not shift and can not drive, had to be towed to a Mercedes service center.
After about 3 weeks, the service center replaced the valve body and the Intelligent Shift Module (ISM). That appeared to fix the original transmission problem.
However, during their road test after completing the transmission repair, the service center noticed a new problem: a noticeable shudder/vibration, mainly under acceleration and load.
I did not experience this shudder before the original breakdown, and I was not the one who first noticed it. The service center discovered it during their road test after the transmission repair.
Since then, they have been trying to fix the shudder without success. The van has now been at the Mercedes service center for more than 3 months.
From what I understand, they have been focusing on the driveshaft/driveline. They have tried removing spacers, adding spacers, etc. At one point the shudder actually became worse, then after another adjustment it improved somewhat, but it is definitely still there.
At this point I'm starting to wonder if they haven't properly identified the root cause.
There is one other thing that makes me wonder if it could be related.
When the van was originally towed to the Mercedes service center, it was NOT transported on a flatbed (please see the photo). The front wheels were lifted, while the rear wheels remained on the ground and rotated during the tow.
The tow truck driver told me that he had disconnected the rear-wheel drive before towing it.
I have no idea whether the towing procedure actually caused any damage, and this is only my suspicion. But since the shudder was discovered after the original transmission problem was repaired, I can't help wondering whether the towing process could have caused some kind of damage to the drivetrain, driveshaft, differential, or another component.
Could a VS30 AWD be safely towed this way if the rear drivetrain was properly disconnected? Or is there a possibility that something could still have been damaged during the tow?
I'm wondering if this could be related to (after I study the posts here):
- Driveshaft alignment or driveline angles
- Center support/carrier bearing position
- U-joint angles or phasing
- Driveshaft balance
- Transmission or engine mounts
- Differential alignment
- Possible damage from the towing procedure
- Something related to the transmission repair
- Transmission adaptation/relearn after replacing the valve body and ISM
- Torque converter
What really caught my attention is that the service center has been adjusting spacers in the driveshaft area. That makes me wonder if there may be some kind of driveline geometry issue.
Mercedes-Benz Canada is also involved now, but after more than 3 months at the Mercedes service center, there is still no clear diagnosis or repair plan.
At this point, I would really appreciate any ideas from people who have experience with these vans. If someone can suggest a test, a possible cause, or a repair that actually solves this kind of problem, it would not only help me — it could also help Mercedes figure this one out. They seem to be running out of options after more than three months.
I don't want to keep replacing or adjusting parts until something magically works. I would really like to find the actual cause and get my van back!
If anyone has experienced something similar, especially on a VS30 AWD, I would really appreciate hearing what the problem turned out to be and how it was fixed.
Thanks!
