Hello,

I recently ran something over on the freeway. Shortly after I noticed a fluid leaking from under my car. I investigated it myself and noticed that it was coming from the radiator. It was the top transmission cooler line. I thought it simply need to be tightened, but to make a long story short, I made it worse. I then brought it into the dealership and they said that the housing for the line seemed damage and that they got it in but that there was not guarantee that it would hold. They said that if it did not hold that I would have to get a whole new radiator at $1695. Needless to say I crossed my fingers that it would hold. Upon driving away from the dealership I noticed that the transmission was not right. I have been having problems with it ever since. It will take a lot longer to respond to pushing on the throttel, it will sometimes not shift out of gear to which I need to pull over and restart. The tiptronic is not working, and also it shifts really hard at times. I have done a bit of research and read that a lot of transmission problems are actually fluid issues. I noticed that there is still fluid under my car, so I am guessing that the line did not hold. Does this sound like this can be a fluid issue? I have an appaointment on Monday and I want to be prepaired if they try and hose me for new parts. Also does anyone know the name of the housing that the transmission cooler line plugs into at the radiotor? The dealership tried to tell me that this part can not be purchased seperately and that I would have to purchase the new radiator. I am going to try and source this part from a recking yard before I pay out of the a$$ for the new radiator. Please help, and thatnk you in advance.

 

Rmeruopean and a good indy will be your friend. add your location so we may better assist you.
That does sound like a fluid issue

 

Obviously this is a fluid issue, but as the post above me said, rmeuropean will be your best friend with these cars.

Ask for Andy when you call and even explain the situation. Also, check the DIY stickies for your car

 

Sorry I am new here. Gotta update the profile. Not sure who rmeuropean is. Is this a wrecking yard?

 

Rmeuropean is a top notch site for mb just google them

 

Replace the radiator with a South African made Behr. It is only about $150 in the US. It's an easy DIY. Stealers $1695 See splinter's thread in the DIY's. Make sure that the cooler hoses & O rings are in good order.

 

Here:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/228327-diy-w203-radiator-r-r.html

 

I bought the special tool "dipstick" to check the transmission fluid level but cannot locate the tube to put it in.

A pick

Help!!!

 

The MT has no filler/stick tube. It fills to a plug hole on the side.

 

stay away from dealers
find a good independent shop for your car!

 

Thanks all...very helpful

 

Just replaced the radiator. What a ***** that was. The link is missing some details on removal. Clips on the bottom are damn near impossible to get at.

 

Ah well! Pleased you got it sorted. I hope you saved big bucks by DIY.