2003 C230 rough shifting, jerky transmission
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 5
From: So Cal
2003 C230
2003 C230 rough shifting, jerky transmission
2003 C230 sedan
rough gear change 2 > 3 or 3 > 4
At first I thought it's bad mounts. Later found out transmission oil and coolant mixed at the radiator. Somehow the chamber that separates the two fluids had a crack so both fluids got mixed.
At an indy shop.
flush out contaminated coolant including heater core
flush out contaminated transmission oil
New Nissens radiator, thermostat, coolant, transmission oil
Now it's back to normal. I will need to go back in 3 weeks to make sure there is no more contamination. May need to flush again.
rough gear change 2 > 3 or 3 > 4
At first I thought it's bad mounts. Later found out transmission oil and coolant mixed at the radiator. Somehow the chamber that separates the two fluids had a crack so both fluids got mixed.
At an indy shop.
flush out contaminated coolant including heater core
flush out contaminated transmission oil
New Nissens radiator, thermostat, coolant, transmission oil
Now it's back to normal. I will need to go back in 3 weeks to make sure there is no more contamination. May need to flush again.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
^ Sounds like you had the famous Valeo radiator problem.
Not sure why MB says the tranny requires replacment after a certain % of glycol goes into the tranny. I'd imagine a few good flushes would solve most problems as long as the gears aren't trashed.
Not sure why MB says the tranny requires replacment after a certain % of glycol goes into the tranny. I'd imagine a few good flushes would solve most problems as long as the gears aren't trashed.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 5
From: So Cal
2003 C230
The transmission oil and coolant were the same color 
So I had to flush both systems.
I can still see a little bit of grease floating on the top of reservoir. So I used a few napkins to suck it up. First day was more and now it's less (second day, almost all gone).
I will still go back to drain out (not flush) coolant in January.
So I had to flush both systems.
I can still see a little bit of grease floating on the top of reservoir. So I used a few napkins to suck it up. First day was more and now it's less (second day, almost all gone).
I will still go back to drain out (not flush) coolant in January.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
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From: Jersey City, NJ
2001 C320 w/ Sprt Pkg
Change the radiator to the BEHR unit, do a coolant flush and a transmission fluid flush. A few days later, flush again. And a few days after, flush once more. If you want to be super OCD, do a 4th flush, to make 100% sure it's all out.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 5
From: So Cal
2003 C230
I am some what OCD. I would think if just drain and fill then maybe 4 times. But flush and fill also 4 times?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 5
From: So Cal
2003 C230
This happened 2 months later. Related?
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...n-problem.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...n-problem.html
