squawbum

I just completed my 722.9 transmission service on my 2005 E500. It was super easy. Especially because I spent the last week and a half psyching myself out over this supposedly insane procedure and rehearsed it a million times in my mind and by the time I finally got to doing it, it was as if I'd done it a million times.

The only difference with this procedure and what I did was I used a cooking thermometer, a modified Assenmacher fill tool and did the TC flush using the passenger side cooling line instead of the TC drain plug. The Assenmacher fill tool is modified because I added a valve to the tool so I could have it attached to the oil pan and open and close the valve as needed.

I also used my MityVac Fluid extractor (in reverse mode) to fill the transmission fluid. Was so easy and since I had the valve on the fill tool, I could open and close the fill as needed, since I was using the cooling line to flush the TC.

Also, the valve came in handy when gonig to check the oil temp to determine proper fill level. Basically, I set the thermo to C display, taped the probe end to the oil pan and set the temp alarm to 44* C. Once the temp alarm went off, I got under the car and slightly opened the valve on the fill tool to let a little fluid drain out. I then put the probe end in the flowing oil and when the temp hit 45*C, I opened the valve all the way, turned off the engine and waited for the slow trickle. The temp of the oil flowing out fluctuated between 43 and 45* C.

The other change to this proc was that I flushed the TC via the passenger side oil cooler line. I couldn't find the TC drain plug and it was way easier to do the oil line drain for me. I disconnected the fitting at the radiator, hooked up a 5/8" ID (Not OD) clear vinyl tube to the radiator side of the fitting after letting it drain for around 30 minutes. By the way, total fluid drained from oil pan and oil line was 6 Liters. I then used my mityvac to fill the oil pan with 6 liters of fluid. Closed the valve on the fill tool. Then I started the engine and let 2 liters flow out the oil line tube and stopped the engine. Then I opened the valve on the fill tube and let 2 liters flow in.

Then repeated this procedure till I ran out of fluid and knew I would put 1 more liter in than came out. I ended up using 12 quarts of Shell ATF and the fluid coming out of the drain hose was a nice clear red on the second to last flush. I probably didn't have to do the last flush, but I had the fluid already in the mityvac so I used it all.

Hope this helps someone!

Take care.

squawbum

By the way, I did the TC flush procedure through the oil cooling line BEFORE doing the tempurature check method for fluid level. Fluid level check should be the LAST thing you do in this whole process.

For removing the oil pan, I also removed the exhaust bracket on my car to make sure that I had completed and unobstructed removal and install access for the oil pan.

johnand

Wait, you turned the engine off while still having the valve open, and still draining ATF? If so, you need to fill it up again and recheck, as your fluid level will be too low. You DO NOT shut the engine off, until the fluid has stopped trickling out at the correct temp, and you have replaced the drain plug. If you turn off the engine before replacing the drain plug you will lose about another 1-1.5L of fluid!

squawbum

Just redid fluid level check, this time using STAR. All is good now. Thanks for the heads up. FYI. Start the service with a cold car or barely warmed up car. I started the fluid check after driving around most of the morning and the STAR tranny fluid temp read 70* C when I first hooked up SDS to my car. It took almost 5 hours for the fluid to get down to 45*C. Luckily I have a battery charger and hook it up when I hook up the computer to the car, otherwise my battery would have been a gonner. Thanks again!

johnand

Yes, I like to do the service after the car has been sitting overnight, makes the fluid level check much easier, as the temp SLOWLY creeps up. When already warm it shoots up very quickly, and is hard to get under there and button it up before the temp rises above the set point. Glad you got it sorted

ddombrowski

Hey guys,

Just registered here for this specific thread. I'm planning on doing the transmission fluid change on my sister's GLK350 4matic next weekend and I have a question or two.

I've put together my parts list at RM european, and no matter where I look, I can't find the A0019901117 - Torque converter drain plug. I found it at pelican parts, but I'd prefer not to place a separate order and pay shipping on just one bolt.

Is a new bolt really that important? Or could I re-apply loctite to the old one?

Glyn M Ruck

The original plugs are microencapsulated. You can safely apply sealant to the old one.

lee16

So I can fill new fluid through a pump into the drain plug? The overfill tube will let me know when I enough tranny fluid?

LDH

how much effort is it taking to displace the overflow tube through the drain hole to get the majority of the fluid in the pan out?

lee16

Anyone know if a 2010 model has a tc drain plug?

lapd1989

So please where is the vid for this DIY??? I've been waiting for this the longest. Lol can't wait to see it.

Uncle

My 2010 C300 2wd has a drain plug on the TC. I changed the fluid last weekend.

dennisfaul

Hi Glynn, I followed your instructions on the Service of my 722.9 gearbox and everything went really well. I would just like to thank you for the post.

HOWEVER I did have one small problem while trying to drain the oil from the Torque Converter. I did not find the drain plug and I rotated the engine countless times to try and find the drain plug but found nothing. It looked like there was a small rectangular plate welded in pace of the drain plug. Is this possible? Or am I doing something wrong. My car is a 2005 C320 CDI (WDC2030202R202670). Would really appreciate any assistance.

dave2001auto

My epc account shows a TC drain plug A0019901117. It looks like there may be 3 rectangular mounting plates on the TC. The epc could be wrong. Call your local MB dealer parts department. Give them the VIN to look up on their computer.

tranny is listed as 722902 00 2xxxxxx which in the USA would have a TC drain plug. I THINK some of the 93x, 96x and the 4 wd tranny don't have drain plug.

jvanbrecht

The dude is an Aussie, but the vid is there.

kluvsbenz

Had my second transmission service done by an indy. This is my second indy to do this and he showed me what my first indy did wrong. First off, he only dumped the tranny oil in the pan No drain of torque converter. This was at 89k when I needed a flush badly. Secondly, my first indy didn't seat my tranny filter properly and my tranny fluid was burnt. I am at 128k and now my second indy said he wanted me to come back in a few weeks to see if everything is going well with the tranny, i.e, leaks, shifting etc. At this point, my second indy had to use all 13 quarts of ATF I had on hand to follow the instructions the OP posted. It seems like the ATF drain from the torque conv. took forever but now it's done. So far, so good. Shifting is fine, no leaks. Will monitor for a couple weeks and see what happens. At least it was done right this time.

dave2001auto

Excellent 7G ATF change video. Clear images and not to much background nor wind noise.

Cali619

What kind of fluid are you guys using?

I know genuine MB ATF us probably besy but are there any known compatible fluids. We use kendell versa trans and its not but it is a great chemical brand for oil and etc. So any equal to quality like a mobil or redline? Or is factory fluid only way to go.

samaritrey

Many of us use Shell 134 ATF It is approved fluid for both the 722.6 and 722.9 and can usually be found locally at shell distributors for around $5 a quart. It comes in 12quart boxes. I have also found it at places that stock lubricants for work equipment. The fluid is the same thing that is used in the sprinter vans as they have the 722.6 5 speed.

Cali619

Great I just ordered some today (12qts).
I have my Transmission Service Kit.

Do I absolutely need NEW pan bolts, and drain plugs.
I do services all day at work and we never use new pan bolts.
But this is a Mercedes so I know it has temperamental issues haha but somethings I know are also just ways of dealerships to add a few extra dollars to the ticket.

For draining the TC. Once drained. Is there a special way to prime it or do I just replace the plug and fill the transmission as directed?

dave2001auto

The pan bolts are aluminum and are use once then replace. Do not reuse. They have been stretched and may snap. The pan plug but not the seal may be reused. The TC plug with seal are to be used once. TC seal is coated with a sealant.

Read the directions for the ATF change. On the 7g, the atf is put in through the drain plug. When it come to temp (see instruction), the plug is removed and atf level adjust by letting aft leak out. If it does not stream out you need to put in more atf. See the instructions. There a good video on youtube . see posting 115 above

Cali619

Ok cool, so I got the pan bolts ordered but I cant find the part number for the TC plug anyone have it on hand?

Cali619

Nevermind got it. On his nice write up had all parts and part #s.

This was an amazing write up btw!!

dave2001auto

the tc plug with seal is a dealer item and about four dollars. There are two different sizes, so have your vin number when going to the dealer. some people reapply a sealant to the seal and reused. hat I have no personal experience, so can not comment if it's good or bad.

The seal for the pan is about twenty five cents at autohausaz.

Jschroter

First off..thank you For this DIY!

I plan to do the 722.9 7GTronic service at 39k on my 2008 e320 Bluetec.

I would like to use an OBD2 tool to get the accurate transmission temperature instead of the IR thermometer method. (Questionable accuracy) There is a perfectly good Mercedes transmission temp sensor in the car somewhere and we just need a low cost way to get to it instead of the Star tool.
So, I bought a cheap <$20 Bluetooth OBD2 scanner from amazon and also the $5 Torque pro app for android. (Bluetooth is not iPad friendly by the way)
First of all The Torque Pro app works great for The normal stuff. It advertised tranny temps on some models...but not the one we need)
I asked the developer , Ian Hawkins,to add transmission temp for the 722.9 to Torque Pro. (There are folks who successfully used this tool for tranny temp on other models)

Ian is requesting the transmission temperature PID for the 722.9. Does anyone have this info? Is there a conversion algorithm from sensor reading to actual temp ?
Regards - John

The developer wrote:
Hi John!

I do plan to at some point - I’m trying to locate the transmission temperature PID on a CLS320 I have access to and as soon as I (or some enterprising plugin developer) finds it, it will go into the app as part of an update, or a third party plugin if someone beats me to it. Unfortunately I don’t have a star system to compare against so progress isn’t fast

Alternatively if someone from your forums knows it already and gives out the information, then you can simply enter it into the ‘Manage extra PIDs/sensors’ part of the app

Regards

Ian

On 26 Dec 2013, at 04:41, John Schroter <jschroter@yahoo.com> wrote:

Please advise if you support or plan to support mercedes tranny temp.
Specifically looking for the 722.9 7GTRONIC support commonly found in many mercedes,

I have a 2008 e320 bluetec with the 7 speed transmission. I need to know the transmission temp when changing the fluid.

I will,post your response I the mercedes forums if it is helpful.