Auto box
 

As Chris says don't drive with an overfull box drain or suck some out. Find a good Auto Box Specialist, the good ones will be able to hook up the transmission to a diagnostic rig and tell you (1) If you have a problem and (2) Exactly which area it is in. Electronic control, Valve body or just good old wear and tear.
If they are maintained these AW 5 speed boxes are as tough as old boots.
There was a well documented issue with Valve bodies in the US porosity if I recall so if a box has been rebuilt and the original issue was Vale body its just transferred to the refurbished box? New valve bodies are like Rocking Horse xxxx I am told.
A good specialist diagnostic session should only cost about £40 and you get a print out, I had it done on a Merc E55 it helped a lot in discussions with the Dealer who denied there was an issue told me it was my driving style???

Diagnostics has already been done with no fault codes. After changing the fluid for the GM/Vauxhall stuff mentioned in another thread the vehicles drives better and hasn't as of yet "kicked in the back" like it was doing when hot when changing down. Stil think though that it has the stop/neutral function on it.....is there a definite test to see if it has it and what am I asking the Dealer for if I wanted the TCM software updated.

Diagnostics
 

Hi
Don't confuse a "code reading" session with a full diagnostic session for a modern Auto box with electronic control.
I had an E55 that suffered really harsh changes 3 visits to the Dealer (2 year old car 26k) the dealer kept the car on each occasion. The conclusion from the dealer "no fault codes" so no fault? He even told me it was my "driving style" as they could find nothing wrong.
I was recommended to an Auto Box specialist in Portsmouth by a business colleague, the rig they hooked the gearbox up too gave information on,

1) Analysis of ATF and condition
2) Hydraulic pressure at each of the control solonoids
3) Electrical circuits and continuity (it is computer controlled they dial in the car/box etc and the machine does the rest)
4) ATF temperature

The ATF in my box had a high alloy content, there was either a leak past a solonoid which was causing a pressure loss on 2-3 changes (in English Big Thud the dealer couldnt find). The same fault showed on two other solonoids.
As the pressure loss was consistent the conclusion was a porous valve body.
Porous valve body problems with the 6 speed box were well known in the US.
So armed with the print out and print outs from a couple of US websites back to Mercedes GB who straight away acknowledged the problem and contacted the Dealer. A new box was fitted at their cost within 10 days.

The specialist didn't even have to drive the car and the whole process took just under an hour.

slipping down into 5th
 

Hi
I do love the auto box, but it seems that sometimes it will change slowly 4th to 5th, and the revs will drop from say 1800 to 1500 ish, but over about 4 seconds. Cold/warm makes no difference, only difference seems to be throttle position, if I'm getting up to speed it will change gear quickly and there's no noticeable delay. If I'm easing up the speed slowly 1mph/sec then the delay is more noticeable when it changes to 5th at about 41mph.
Is 5th gear the lock up on the torque converter? In which case I might be having a "lazy lock up"?

Aw 50-55 poor reverse
 

I have a 2002 V70 D5 with 5 speed auto, When warm the reverse is very poor and the car seems to Judder whilst reversing, when the car is cold no problems in Reverse, Any thoughts ?

I have got the book for this gearbox in Adobe format if anyone wants a copy.

Are you pinching mt thread? Only joking. If you trawl back through old threads you will see I have posted a few on the exact same subject.
My V70 behaves exactly the same, when cold fine, when warm okayish, when hot damned useless, severe judder and all.
Been like it for over 9mths now, still no further to solving the problem!
Done all the normal things ie check ATF level, ATF fluid nearly new etc etc
Read heaven knows how many articles on umpteen websites. I am of the conclusion that
it is some solenoid internally, the number now escapes me. frankly I've given up I've wasted so many hours taking this out, that out etc.
Once it's through it's MOT it's going.

Hello Nick,

PM sent

Book
 

Very surprised at the number of requests for this, so here is a link.
It's not the whole thing, but never the less very useful.

http://www.sonnax.com/tech-articles/PRE-ATRA08-RCW.pdf

yes please