cgshawaii

Wife's car is a '98 C280 Sport with about 52,000 miles. Trans became reluctant to upshift from 1-2 when cold and had harsh 2-3 and 2-1 shifts. Acting on discussions in this and other forums and the advice of a local independent, I replaced the conductor plate, filter, fluid, connector socket and gasket. Solenoids had continuity and 5-8 ohms resistance, I think they're okay.

Wife test drove after i did the work, had a hard 1-2 upshift and the car went into limp mode, second gear only. Knowing faults in the trans controller would have to be cleared for the car to run properly we took it to the indie for fault code clearing and evaluation. Have not heard back...

However... as I cleaned up I found what appears to be a small filter. I have no idea where it came from but it must have been on the conductor plate somewhere. It's plastic, less than 3/8" across with a shiny metal gauze across it, see picture.

Can anyone identify this, and is it required for the proper operation of the trans? Car is pretty much a creampuff and has run very well since we got it two or so years ago. Engine and trans resealing cost the PO about $4500, something about timing cover gaskets leaking oil into coolant, but all has been well since we got the car until this trans humbug came up.

cm60k

Looks like Valve Body Solenoid filter..!!



ZAYED,,

cgshawaii

Bingo, that's the one. But now that I have it in my hand, and it needs to go in the trans, just exactly where does it fit?

The indie who is taking his sweet time about clearing the error codes in the trans controller (and says the trans still slams into second) says it doesn't affect the hard shift, but long term it does need to go back in (sigh, in for it again).

I'm awaiting subscription confirmation with the fiche but anticipating I may have to drill down quite a ways as I'm not familiar with the Benz parts organization. Expect it will be similar to the BMW fiche... sometimes things are not where one expects.

cm60k

There are (6) solenoids attached to the Valve body, each solenoid need one filter,,

*see #42 in diagram..



ZAYED,,

cgshawaii

Thanks for the diagram, but for six solenoids I see only two Valve Body Solenoid filters (#42), one each under the Modulating Pressure Solenoid and the Shift Pressure Regulating Solenoid. Can I assume the others, if they exist, were not shown so as to enhance diagram clarity?

I don't remember seeing four other VBS filters but I wasn't looking for them until I found one on the floor, so at this point I can't know if any are still in the valve body. So I have to ask: is this item available separately?

Still waiting for my subscription to the ETK so I can ask the local dealer if they can sell me the particular part number, whatever it may turn out to be.

Thanks,

Charlie

cm60k

Ahhh sorry, i mixed 5 speed with 7 speed..!,

your right, you only need 2 solenoid filters, you can get those filters separately, with part #: "140 270 04 98"..

ZAYED,,