kah1010

Vehicle: 2001 C320 (96K)

I was doing a regular maintenance this weekend on my son's car and lately I have started to change transmission fluid as part of the B-service (e.g. every 20K or so).

I did drain the transmission (by opening the plug only, no filter change this time) and with my son we measured drained fluid and replaced the same amount thru dipstick.

After everything was done, he went for a quick drive and came back reporting that the transmission is not shifting I did check it too and indeed transmission was stuck on limp-mode and there is a check engine light on!

I was quite confused and opened the hood....and then it hit me (like a slow motion movie). As I didn't remove the air-filter assembly during the maintenance process, it only meant that I added the transmission fluid thru wrong dipstick into the engine instead ......what an idiot!!! A major bonehead moment.

So I have the P0715 code on now and transmission in limp mode.

Do I need to get the code erased by a dealer scanner (or similar) or does the code disappear when conditions are back to normal (I will pick up and add the fluid today)?

If scanner is required to clear the codes, are there any relatively inexpensive "advanced" scanners that do the job (regular OBD II will not do the job based on what I've read)?

I sure hope that the test drive (without 3qrt ATF) didn't break anything in the transmission

K

PS I have already re-replaced engine oil to get rid of the ATF that I poured in...

Glyn M Ruck

Get the fluid level right at the correct temperature with a dipstick. Here are the dimensions if you want to make one.

The transmission should come out of limp after a short drive or possibly just idling the car until everything is filled by the transmission pump.

You won't be the first & you won't be the last!

Good luck!



https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...isengages.html

kah1010

Thanks

Fluids are back in and verified the level at 80C (measured at the pan) with the dipstick - seems ok.

However, after driving around about 10min or so the transmission is still in limp the mode :-(

K

Glyn M Ruck

Either go on driving or get the car onto a Star to cancel.

kah1010

Thanks,
Well, I will drive more today, hopefully it will help to clear the code & limp mode.


As far as clearing the alarm is concerned, are there any "reasonably priced" scanners that will clear the ECU codes (would usable with my ML too)?

K

Glyn M Ruck

Also try multiple restart cycles. Each time you start the car it reboots the TCU.


The AUTEL MaxiScan MS309

and the Equus Innova 3130b are two favourites on this board & never give trouble on Benz vehicles. Different price points. One cheapie & one expensive.

kah1010

I managed to get the transmission shifting again (off the limp mode) by clearing the alarm manually in the transmission computer (with the carsoft tool).

In my case driving around (in limp mode) didn't clear the P0715 code, but manual reset was required (as some suggested)

Also I didn't clear the CEL, but it cleared itself after few drives (=start the car, drive little, stop the car and restart the engine - and repeat).

Let's see whether car will be ok now...

K

sammydragon3

u need to clear all codes

visually the check engine light went away but the code is still the computer

i hope its fine but u may have shorten the trans life

jimwv

mine is starting to make a dry cable winding sound(?) only makes it at low speed before up shifting.
oil level...?