97W202

whats up guys ill keep it short.


I have a 6speed, when I first got the car (I am second owner) it was almost an effortless motion to switch gears.. over time its gotten rougher...


in the past week I AM LITERALLY having to FIGHT the gears in there and sometimes even OUT.

WTFFFFFF????

is it a fluid change that I need?

what do you guys think!!! ANY advice here would be helpful as I dont want to keep driving her if there is a potential for further damage!



on a side note: (I am trying to find out if there is any relevance here) how soft/hard is it to fully deppress your clutch??

thanks!

Glyn M Ruck

Unusual.

Is the problem worse when cold?
Does your clutch disengage properly
What mileage & has the oil ever been changed?
Do Synchro cones baulk i.e. do gears ever grate at change?

97W202

I thought so too!

57000 on the dash..
Just changed the engine oil about a week ago.
as far as tranny oil IDK, do u think that could be it?

what exactly do you mean does it properly disengage??

as far as grate.. no serious grinding but sometimes Ill go to put the gear in and it will make a grate sound right before it swallows the stick out of my hand..literally.

now that you mention it when the car is cold and I try upshifting from 1st to 2nd the car does one of those " i am learning how to drive manual " jerks...

dmatre

From the jerking description, and the actions described, I'm betting that your clutch isn't fully dis-engaging.

I don't know if MB uses a hydraulic clutch (if so, check the fluid), or a cable/linkage activation (if so, check the adjusters at the end of the linkage).

Most likely it's not actually transmission related.

(You don't have a bunch of floor mat rolled up under the clutch pedal do you? - Preventing it from being fully depressed?)

97W202

no floor mats rolled up on myside (tho my pass side is always bent, i hate it!)

as far as the transmission i want to say its cable link but....
you've brought a great memory to mind...

since I first got the car the clutch is somewhat rough to depress
(thats what leads me to believe its a cable-link drive instead of hydraulic)
isnt the hydraulic supposed to feel easy on the foot??

anyway

about 6 months ago I took the car for service and told them to have a look at the clutch...

when I picked up the car I swear all I had to do was blow air on the pedal and it was fully depressed... about a week later, it went back to being stiff... any lightbulbs pop up in ur head???

TemjinX2

i agree with checking the shift linkage. The clutch feel I dont think really relates to if its hydralic or cable. My gsr was hydralic and was soft stock and stiff as hell with the race clutch.

Glyn M Ruck

There is not much to go wrong with the new linkage - likely the clutch not fully disengaging - damaged pressure plate.

These boxes are naturally tight when cold from 1st to second gear.

This is the post facelift change mechanism - single rod - see pdf. & image

dmatre

Actually, I am thinking more clutch linkage than shift linkage.

If the clutch doesn't fully dis-engage, then the shifter will resist pulling out of gear, and resist going into gear. The transmission will also pull the gearshift fully into gear (and possibly out of your hand) once it's started.

I'm still thinking the tranny's OK, and the clutch needs fluid or is out of adjustment.

97W202

i feel much better... where do I find the clutch linkage and how can I tell if its bad??

97W202

do u think if thats IS the problem that I will need a new pressure plate???

TemjinX2

ah got it

Glyn M Ruck

Clutch hydraulics

Clutch & pressure plate


If you want Schematics of the release bearing arrangement you need to give me your exact gearbox number. There are about 20 variations of the 6 speed.

Glyn M Ruck

+1 D I think it's either PP or the release linkage/hydraulics. My god I did not realise how many versions there are of the 6 speed MT.

Glyn M Ruck

I would most definitely check the release bearing mechanism adjustment, Bleed the clutch & check for leaks. Check clutch pedal mechanism.

Pressure plate can do exactly what you describe if the diaphragm is damaged but that is a last resort.

If you want a diagram you are going to have to look for the model plate on that gearbox & give it to me. I can't do a VIN search - your dealer can. They have made many many changes to the 6 speed MT.

Glyn M Ruck

BTW - Your reverse gear is hard left & up yes???? not down?

97W202

yes hard left and up... how would I go about finding that model plate number??


so far this is what I got....

I need to check my clutch linkage (where is it at?)
I need to bleed my clutch (how to do it?)
check for leaks (where would I look?)
chek clutch pedal mechanism ( what would indicate an irregularity? )

Look I know I have a lot of questions and I dont mean to be overly annoyin about this, I just dont want my baby to suffer beyond repair ! I would be more than willing to learn how to do all of these things with a little guidance.. !!
pleasee! lol

dmatre

Given that you aren't sure how to bleed the clutch, or even where the clutch linkage is, I would recommend to find a good indie shop and take the car there. Alternatively, maybe you could find a forum member in your area willing to help out. I wouldn't recommend digging around in a Benz if you don't know what you're doing.

97W202

True but you gotta start somewhere. There are risk involved and I am fully aware of that, however I am very confident that with guidance from fellow members like yourself this can be done without having to spend tons of money on something I could of put the effort and done myself.

p.s I am out of warranty anyway.