Valeo Radiator Problems on C-Class W203/CL203/S203

[SeaCoupe]

I beaming with pride here. Excellent! Job well done! So, how many miles did you drive it with the contamination? The Tranny is someting that intimidates me to no end. I mean, I can end up being really upside down trying to get that lug out if we had problems. Nice to know they can be addressed with a simple remedy. Mind telling us a P/N for the replacement radiator? How did you deal with the tranny cooling lines that are also in the valeo radiator? Ed

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[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by NG C-Klasse

Well, I did the fix a few months ago ....It still runs perfectly.

[mtnman82]

Please tell me you took some pics of the Valeo radiator to post here? Detailed ones, like the end tank seams, tranny hose connections, etc. Pretty please????? Maybe some way to identify while the radiator is still in the car?

[NG C-Klasse]

Originally Posted by mtnman82

Please tell me you took some pics of the Valeo radiator to post here? Detailed ones, like the end tank seams, tranny hose connections, etc. Pretty please????? Maybe some way to identify while the radiator is still in the car?

I threw that hunk of junk away long ago. I visually inspected it and found no easy to see failure..but remember. The failure in the seal is so small and occurs over along time. It's not a catastrophic failure and one that would be noticeable immediately. The factory lines are just fine..that's not an issue, the connectors where the mount to the main area of the radiator is the one and only problem. It's not something you'd be able to see with the naked eye.

As far as the length of miles it drove contaminated..I'd say at least 3k that I can think back on, but I'm sure it was contaminated before the symptoms occured, it just wasn't enough to cause a failure of any kind yet. So it could have been 5k miles or more since the leak is so small.

As for the Performance Radiator part #. It is as follows:
Part # 2767

Core Dimensions: 25 1/2 x 16 x 1
Thickness: 1
Rows: 1
Tank Construction: PLASTIC
Core Construction: ALUMINUM
Inlet Diameter: 1 3/8
Outlet Diameter: 1 3/8
TOC: Concentric
TOC Length: 12
EOC: NA
EOC Length: NA

It can be purchased online here:
usaradiator.com

[NG C-Klasse]

Still going strong with no issues and no CEL.

[pickupjason]

is there any newer w203, such as 04+ owner has the same experience?

[rubensans]

Hello,

I have tried to look for the valeo or the behr sticker but have not foung them.

I attach some pictures; I have tried to compare them with the ones of TSB but are very different from the old style and also from the new style.

Do I have a valeo?

Thanks.

Bottom:


Up:


Bottom Ref Number:

[rubensans]

anyone?

[slammer111]

I wasn't sure if I had a "bad" Valeo, so I just paid for them to flush the tranny and also analyze the fluid, the dealer has a glycol-testing kit. Cost about $300 in total (not covered by Extended Warranty), but the result came back negative. Not bad for peace of mind (and less than the price of switching out the rad )

Not all Valeos are bad. Just certain batches. That's the stupid thing about this problem. The only way to tell is to have it analyzed. Pay the $ and find out once and for all.

[pookie]

side note: I gave my care to the dealer to fix the problem again. Looking through the service notes, the dealer that replaced the transmission did not replace the radiator causing the problem with shifting. Another dealer (2nd) noted that and finally replaced the radiator. But the damage was already done to the replaced transmission and now the 3rd dealer is taking apart the tranny. I won't know what will happen until next week since this is a big service job. I did talk with mbusa-extended warranty and they told me that it will be covered like before if it is the tranny again. I guess I won't know for sure till I get a bill.

[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by slammer111

....Not all Valeos are bad. Just certain batches. That's the stupid thing about this problem. The only way to tell is to have it analyzed. .....

No, all Valeos are bad. Bad meaning they should be replaced. The analysis tells you if the transmission has been affected.

[FrankW]

Originally Posted by mleskovar

No, all Valeos are bad. Bad meaning they should be replaced. The analysis tells you if the transmission has been affected.

not all Valeos are bad.

[slammer111]

Originally Posted by mleskovar

No, all Valeos are bad. Bad meaning they should be replaced. The analysis tells you if the transmission has been affected.

The dealer found ZERO glycol in my tranny, which is almost 5 years old now. If the rad were to leak, it would've done so already. I would have to disagree with you, as my SA was saying it was basically a few bad batches from Valeo. Mind you, I don't know what brand rad I have.

Anyone know, is there a way to tell what brand radiator you have, WITHOUT taking apart your grille/bumper?

One more thing for the record, I asked the Parts guy about brand-new rads and even now they still sell BOTH Behr and Valeo for the W203, with the same part number. And my SA said this problem is actually quite rare, with only 5-6 cars at my dealership requiring tranny or rad replacement. (everyone knows how many MBs there are in Vancouver).

[rubensans]

I have take apart everything and did not found the label :-(

[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by FrankW

not all Valeos are bad.

You are confusing "bad" with "failed". All, all Valeos should be replaced. They were not manufactured correctly and the chances of them failing are too high to keep them, especially when the failure causes so much damage.

[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by slammer111

The dealer found ZERO glycol in my tranny, which is almost 5 years old now. If the rad were to leak, it would've done so already. I would have to disagree with you, as my SA was saying it was basically a few bad batches from Valeo..

So you've been lucky but why keep pushing your luck? If you had a tire that was in a build range that was suspect would you wait until it popped before replacing it?

[slammer111]

Originally Posted by mleskovar

So you've been lucky but why keep pushing your luck? If you had a tire that was in a build range that was suspect would you wait until it popped before replacing it?

If it was in a suspect batch (to me that means they would've found SOME glycol in the tranny) then yes I would've replaced it in a second. However, (someone correct me if I'm wrong) my understanding was that it was certain batches that were bad, and not like every Valeo rad for that model year. I do agree with you that preventative maintenance is best. ($12 hose anyone? :p)

The problem manifests itself in the form of a slow leak, so even if there's no damage yet, imho anyone with a bad radiator woudl have SOME glycol in the system. The fact they found NONE in mine gives me sufficient peace of mind. Some people would rather shell out to get it switched out, nothing wrong with that. Some people don't even bother checking, hey it's their choice. All good.

Anyone know if the wavy crimping is the sure-fire way to tell if your rad is bad, or is it only SOME of the wavy ones? I haven't physically looked at my rad yet.

[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by slammer111

If it was in a suspect batch (to me that means they would've found SOME glycol in the tranny) ..

It is in a 'suspected batch', a very large one! Again, if glycol were present then that means it failed. If no glycol that doesn't mean it's OK....but I can see you're determined to take your chances so go ahead.

Originally Posted by slammer111

........The problem manifests itself in the form of a slow leak....

No again. The problem manifests itself with an improperly shifting transmission. You don't know it's happened until the transmission fluid is contaminated with glycol. It doesn't take much. Unless you routinely get a glycol test then...oh never mind. Do what you want.

[rubensans]

Originally Posted by mtnman82

Thanks, C230, but even that post is somewhat confusing. Bob posts a pic of the Behr (good) radiator, talks about looking at how the tranny fluid connectors are attached to the radiator, and then comments that the TSB notes the problem is really due to how the end tanks are attached as that's what the (crappy) pics in the TSB show. The Behr radiator pictured in Bob's post shows the same type of crimped on end tank shown as the 'old' (i.e. problem) method in the TSB used on the Valeo ... ?

My radiator doesn't have a tag on it, so I'm looking for some other identifying feature. Does the Valeo radiator have different connections for attaching the tranny fluid hoses?

Here's a pic of my radiator on the passenger side, from the inside of the engine compartment. Maybe someone can identify it? Notice the crimp on the end tank isn't the 'fingers' (or maybe I can't see the crimp in this view??).

You have the same as me; I think is a behr, but did not found the label.

[pookie]

Yay! Got my car back. New tranny! Actually fixed this time. It is going to be so sad if something happens after my extended warranty ends in Jan09...


edit: if someone wants pic of paper work, I'll get it done this time, so let me know.

[NG C-Klasse]

Replaced the radiator myself with after market unit..no problems since. Never went to the dealer..did a complete flush of the transmission (ran through the machine about 5 times). It's cake.

[c230K415]

Sorry to bring back a old, beaten to death thread but I am confused on one thing. Does warranty cover this? For example, say I called in to my local dealership and told them I have been experiencing harsh acceleration/engagement and that I think the problem is <TSB Number>. I bring it in and have them do some tests or whatever not, if they find that do have the defective radiator. Does warranty cover the transmission fluid flush and radiator change? Or does Mercedes find someway to sneak their way out of this?
(I'm still under extended warranty)

[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by c230K415

...Does warranty cover the transmission fluid flush and radiator change? ...(I'm still under extended warranty)

It should be covered up to and including a transmission swap out if your extended warranty is any good.

[stmort]

Originally Posted by Kar don

Had the glycol contamination in my C-class. Dealer only changed the radiator and flushed the cooling sys and trans fluid. Did anyone have the same outcome or did they replace the trans?

Apparently, if your vehicle was under warranty, Mercedes recommends the service which you had. However, my dealer told me that since mine is not under warranty that is recommended to do substantially more (and more costly) work done. The saddest part is Mercedes apparently knew in 2005 that the Valeo radiator with the old cramping style WOULD fail. With failure comes revenue from required and very costly repairs - repairs which could have been minimized with a $200 replacement radiator. I hope someone will hold Mercedes feet to the fire on this one.

[Glyn M Ruck]

You are replying to a post that is 2.5 years old. Don't worry - I did the same thing when I was new on the forum