Transmission service done, but ........
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So I was told by one workshop that my car didn't have a torque converter drain plug even after I sent them the WIS I found on here.... It's 2014 C250 W205 722.9. This is the W204 thread but should be the same transmission service I believe...
So instead of draining the TC, they said they would flush the system using "a special instrument."
Would you trust them?
So instead of draining the TC, they said they would flush the system using "a special instrument."
Would you trust them?
Last edited by pussgalore; Nov 2, 2018 at 04:09 AM.
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So I was told by one workshop that my car didn't have a torque converter drain plug even after I sent them the WIS I found on here.... It's 2014 C250 W205 722.9. This is the W204 thread but should be the same transmission service I believe...
So instead of draining the TC, they said they would flush the system using "a special instrument."
Would you trust them?
So instead of draining the TC, they said they would flush the system using "a special instrument."
Would you trust them?
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Joined: Jul 2013
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84 300d 2009 e320 bluetec (retired)/, now 2012 E350 4-matic blueefficiency automatic
Update....
I contacted MB Canada about this issue and I was told that the WIS document that everyone was mentioning here is not for the c-class (WTF!) I was told that to confirm I have the drain on the torque converter they need to get my car in a lift and get it inspected and if it does....this is where the manager stopped his sentence.
What they are saying is that a transmission service is not a transmission flush. To those gurus and MB technicians in here please do explain the difference if there is such a difference. They say they only do a flush when there is something wrong with the car's transmission (again, this sounds BS as to why would someone do the proper flush after the fact something is broken already and should be prevented in the first place if proper service was followed).
I was also told that they won't replace the oil pan unless it is noted on the WIS document that they are using with regards to the car and if I want it to get replaced to the new version it shall be requested by the owner (what!?) and I should pay for it.
So three things here:
1. Are those WIS document really pertain to our W204s?
2. Are these guys blowing steam and just covering their mistake?
3. What are the chances that I don't have a drain on the TC?
The parts required to change the pan cost close to $170 only. Would it be wise to get this replaced if I take it to a Indy shop or is there any way to find out if I do have that pan installed or not.
I contacted MB Canada about this issue and I was told that the WIS document that everyone was mentioning here is not for the c-class (WTF!) I was told that to confirm I have the drain on the torque converter they need to get my car in a lift and get it inspected and if it does....this is where the manager stopped his sentence.
What they are saying is that a transmission service is not a transmission flush. To those gurus and MB technicians in here please do explain the difference if there is such a difference. They say they only do a flush when there is something wrong with the car's transmission (again, this sounds BS as to why would someone do the proper flush after the fact something is broken already and should be prevented in the first place if proper service was followed).
I was also told that they won't replace the oil pan unless it is noted on the WIS document that they are using with regards to the car and if I want it to get replaced to the new version it shall be requested by the owner (what!?) and I should pay for it.
So three things here:
1. Are those WIS document really pertain to our W204s?
2. Are these guys blowing steam and just covering their mistake?
3. What are the chances that I don't have a drain on the TC?
The parts required to change the pan cost close to $170 only. Would it be wise to get this replaced if I take it to a Indy shop or is there any way to find out if I do have that pan installed or not.
Last edited by dave2001auto; Nov 2, 2018 at 09:42 AM.
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Are you sure? So the W204 has the drain plug but W205 doesn’t? Then why does MB parts dept include the plug part when I inquired about transmission parts? They checked my VIN before quoting parts.
Last edited by pussgalore; Nov 2, 2018 at 04:07 PM.
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What I remember reading is that early 722.9 transmissions did not have TC drain plugs but by a certain year, which I can't remember at all, TC drain plugs were reinstated and it stayed like this for the 722.9
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I had no idea anyone was referencing the W205. That's not even part of this forum. I believe the W205 has the same 722.9 G tronic plus transmissions found on many 2013 C classes (W204). Same thing.
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I hate my dealer.
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The earlier transmission do on the 204. The later ones, I believe, do not. Eg. the 722.9 G tronic plus did not.
I had no idea anyone was referencing the W205. That's not even part of this forum. I believe the W205 has the same 722.9 G tronic plus transmissions found on many 2013 C classes (W204). Same thing.
I had no idea anyone was referencing the W205. That's not even part of this forum. I believe the W205 has the same 722.9 G tronic plus transmissions found on many 2013 C classes (W204). Same thing.
I messaged Glyn and he's informed me that my car 2014 W205 722.9 G tronic plus has the drain plug unless it's a freak. And also suggested that I drained as opposed to flushed, if anyone is on the same boat.
I seem to be having a hard time locating a mechanic that drains the TC and might have to take my car to a transmission specialist for the transmission service separately from the logbook service...
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Oh I only posted here because couldn't find a relevant post/thread in the W205 forum and people on here seem well informed on this matter.
I messaged Glyn and he's informed me that my car 2014 W205 722.9 G tronic plus has the drain plug unless it's a freak. And also suggested that I drained as opposed to flushed, if anyone is on the same boat.
I seem to be having a hard time locating a mechanic that drains the TC and might have to take my car to a transmission specialist for the transmission service separately from the logbook service...
I messaged Glyn and he's informed me that my car 2014 W205 722.9 G tronic plus has the drain plug unless it's a freak. And also suggested that I drained as opposed to flushed, if anyone is on the same boat.
I seem to be having a hard time locating a mechanic that drains the TC and might have to take my car to a transmission specialist for the transmission service separately from the logbook service...
Transmission fluid should never be flushed. If anything, (E.g. if your car doesn't have a drain plug for the TC), have them drain it, fill it with new fluid, drive it around the block, drain it again, and fill with new fluid. It's better than nothing.
A flush implies something totally different, and should not be done on our cars as it is not called for by Germany.
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84 300d 2009 e320 bluetec (retired)/, now 2012 E350 4-matic blueefficiency automatic
My diesel, being the 2012 e350, uses the old tranny fluid still. So thats a note; Most dealers told me i dont need svc till 70k, but my booklet says 40. Finally found a competent mechanic at a dealership and he confirmed mine does not have updated fluid , and requires service as the book says. (not saying there is a large amount of good mb mechanics, took me 10 calls to find this guy,but my point was just that the job is worth paying to be done right.)
My old boss has a hybrid avalon, loaded. beautiful car, nice interior. gg. good hybrid. PErsonally, its about more to me than just being a smart buy. Intentionally would rather a cpo e350 2012 than a new hybrid avalon fully loaded for free. his wife has a lexus suv, loaded.... land cruiser on air rides with pearl paint. Sorry
However i love teh adjustable shoulder/side bolsters on the seats being electric. genius there;
My old boss has a hybrid avalon, loaded. beautiful car, nice interior. gg. good hybrid. PErsonally, its about more to me than just being a smart buy. Intentionally would rather a cpo e350 2012 than a new hybrid avalon fully loaded for free. his wife has a lexus suv, loaded.... land cruiser on air rides with pearl paint. Sorry
However i love teh adjustable shoulder/side bolsters on the seats being electric. genius there;
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I went through this with my wife's R172 SLK which is based on the W204. Hers is a 2012. Initially, the MB dealer techs stated there is no TC drain plug. I supplied the WIS doc and long story short, the service manager was yelling at the tech that there was a plug, the tech yelled back no. I guess her car is one of the "freak" ones. I saw the pics, there WAS a plug but not where expected. In any case I believe all 204 years have a drain plug, and the TC must be drained.
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Take the attached to a dealer. Tell them "I want you to perform my transmission service and follow the [damn] WIS". I had a serious issue with no dealers in my area following the guide, and ended up taking it to Mercedes Benz Canada and tore a strip off of them for their lazy as* dealers. They ended up doing as I told them to, which is akin to doing it the way Germany tells them to. Tell them to follow step 6.
Transmission fluid should never be flushed. If anything, (E.g. if your car doesn't have a drain plug for the TC), have them drain it, fill it with new fluid, drive it around the block, drain it again, and fill with new fluid. It's better than nothing.
A flush implies something totally different, and should not be done on our cars as it is not called for by Germany.
Transmission fluid should never be flushed. If anything, (E.g. if your car doesn't have a drain plug for the TC), have them drain it, fill it with new fluid, drive it around the block, drain it again, and fill with new fluid. It's better than nothing.
A flush implies something totally different, and should not be done on our cars as it is not called for by Germany.
I was under the impression that flushing might actually be more effective, but why is that not the case with our transmission? I searched on the Internet but there is no article dedicated to 722.9 or MB transmission with the drain plug. But so far you and Glyn suggest the drain method.
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I went through this with my wife's R172 SLK which is based on the W204. Hers is a 2012. Initially, the MB dealer techs stated there is no TC drain plug. I supplied the WIS doc and long story short, the service manager was yelling at the tech that there was a plug, the tech yelled back no. I guess her car is one of the "freak" ones. I saw the pics, there WAS a plug but not where expected. In any case I believe all 204 years have a drain plug, and the TC must be drained.
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A lot of ignorant/moronic mechanics may be using the word "flush" incorrectly. Sometimes when they say flush they mean drain+refill. Perhaps ask them to explain exactly what they are meaning.
Yes, looks like that's my only option but they will probably downplay just because I'm a girl... I had already downloaded the WIS and forwarded it to various workshops but they still said that they would flush because my car had no drain plug or simply wouldn't drain the TC at all. Why is it so hard to find a mechanic who knows how to correctly service our transmission? Even those that claim to be Mercedes specialists don't drain the tc...
I was under the impression that flushing might actually be more effective, but why is that not the case with our transmission? I searched on the Internet but there is no article dedicated to 722.9 or MB transmission with the drain plug. But so far you and Glyn suggest the drain method.
I was under the impression that flushing might actually be more effective, but why is that not the case with our transmission? I searched on the Internet but there is no article dedicated to 722.9 or MB transmission with the drain plug. But so far you and Glyn suggest the drain method.
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A flush implies using a transmission fluid cleaner or solvent. That is not supported. Only MB approved transmission fluid is allowed to ever exist inside our transmissions. Why? My guess - cross contamination.
A lot of ignorant/moronic mechanics may be using the word "flush" incorrectly. Sometimes when they say flush they mean drain+refill. Perhaps ask them to explain exactly what they are meaning.
Write Mercedes Benz USA or whatnot and complain. It's what I did to MB Canada. Girl, man, or goat, it should not matter. A dealership should be following SOP. If they are not, tear them a new one. It's ridiculous quite frankly how MB doesn't even follow their own guidance. One such reason I hate that MB and other brands are busy whoring themselves out to sell cheaper cars. (it leads to this type of behavior).
A lot of ignorant/moronic mechanics may be using the word "flush" incorrectly. Sometimes when they say flush they mean drain+refill. Perhaps ask them to explain exactly what they are meaning.
Write Mercedes Benz USA or whatnot and complain. It's what I did to MB Canada. Girl, man, or goat, it should not matter. A dealership should be following SOP. If they are not, tear them a new one. It's ridiculous quite frankly how MB doesn't even follow their own guidance. One such reason I hate that MB and other brands are busy whoring themselves out to sell cheaper cars. (it leads to this type of behavior).
If my local MB refuses to drain the plug, I will resort to escalating my complaint to HQ... alas, who would have thought servicing MB was this time consuming. At the same time I'm astonished that other MB owners here don't raise this issue.. and I know almost nothing about cars and am making a fuss.
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Yes, it is a good idea to always clarify what they mean by flush. Never really thought about cross contamination with solvent / cleaner... God, cars are so sensitive!
If my local MB refuses to drain the plug, I will resort to escalating my complaint to HQ... alas, who would have thought servicing MB was this time consuming. At the same time I'm astonished that other MB owners here don't raise this issue.. and I know almost nothing about cars and am making a fuss.
If my local MB refuses to drain the plug, I will resort to escalating my complaint to HQ... alas, who would have thought servicing MB was this time consuming. At the same time I'm astonished that other MB owners here don't raise this issue.. and I know almost nothing about cars and am making a fuss.
We are rare not only because we are educated but also because we don't just lease and dump.
All things to be proud of but yes I'm with you. This is ridiculous beyond comprehension for me.
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Well, I'm glad I googled and found this topic! Knowledge is power
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For one of.many reasons, transmission flushes are not recommended in some cases because particulates/debris may become dislodged, clogging the transmission along the way. I've heard both sides of that story. Most dealers that don't drain the TC do so because of extra labor time/cost.
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2010 C300
All modern automatic transmissions are better sealed, have better tolerances, and use much better fluids than those in the past. Over the past 15-20 years we have seen the change by most manufacturers to sealed units. Of course there is a calculated life span, and the manufacturer's point of view may be different than the owner 10 years in the future.
I have had many cars using ZF boxes and they are quite long lasting. I think that if every 3 -5 years you drained the pan and renewed a like amount, you will accomplish your goal, ensuring a long life from your tranny. This will remove any particles, ensure the filter is not blocked,and most important, renew any additives that will keep the seals good, and the internals protected.
I change mine every 40-50K miles and expect that is more than adequate.
I have also drained my Torque Converter, and yes there is a plug, but I don't think it adds much to the equation.
I have had many cars using ZF boxes and they are quite long lasting. I think that if every 3 -5 years you drained the pan and renewed a like amount, you will accomplish your goal, ensuring a long life from your tranny. This will remove any particles, ensure the filter is not blocked,and most important, renew any additives that will keep the seals good, and the internals protected.
I change mine every 40-50K miles and expect that is more than adequate.
I have also drained my Torque Converter, and yes there is a plug, but I don't think it adds much to the equation.
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Just did a 2012 C250 RWD last week. This car had the torque converter drain plug. I made a short video of the torque converter draining:
I used about 8.5L of the new Pentosin ATF 134 FE to refill. About 1/4L was drained out during the fluid level check procedure, so the transmission actually took ~8.2L. My Autel Maxisys Elite had an A/T oil level check function for monitoring the fluid temp.
I used about 8.5L of the new Pentosin ATF 134 FE to refill. About 1/4L was drained out during the fluid level check procedure, so the transmission actually took ~8.2L. My Autel Maxisys Elite had an A/T oil level check function for monitoring the fluid temp.
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Just did a 2012 C250 RWD last week. This car had the torque converter drain plug. I made a short video of the torque converter draining:
https://youtu.be/S3lixbcQQGE
I used about 8.5L of the new Pentosin ATF 134 FE to refill. About 1/4L was drained out during the fluid level check procedure, so the transmission actually took ~8.2L. My Autel Maxisys Elite had an A/T oil level check function for monitoring the fluid temp.
https://youtu.be/S3lixbcQQGE
I used about 8.5L of the new Pentosin ATF 134 FE to refill. About 1/4L was drained out during the fluid level check procedure, so the transmission actually took ~8.2L. My Autel Maxisys Elite had an A/T oil level check function for monitoring the fluid temp.
Turns out my local MB dealership drains the torque converter and their price wasn't that much more than indies that didn't drain the TC.
For the transmission service, their labor is A$400.40 and I could get the genuine parts and oil for around A$290.
I've also found a transmission specialist whose labor cost is A$250. Should I go to the specialist who is not particularly specialized in MB transmissions and save A$150.... tempting but I will probably take it to an MB mechanic just to be safe...
Last edited by pussgalore; Nov 8, 2018 at 12:07 AM.
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84 300d 2009 e320 bluetec (retired)/, now 2012 E350 4-matic blueefficiency automatic
How dirty was the atf from the TC? It looked black on the video.
One Indy said it was the upper oil pan (after replacing the bottom oil pan)— no change in the drip rate.
Another Indy said definitely not the upper pan but can’t find where it’s leaking.
I did a look today. I have a drip from the tranny bell housing and half way up the bell housing. How to determine unambiguous if it is oil or ATF. I put some dye in the oil and ran the car for 10 minutes. Didn’t see the dye in the drip but it’s only slightly green with a UV light by the dipstick.
This drip is very bothersome for it dribbling back to the Cat and then smokes get sucked into the HVAC. If oil leak likely too expensive to repair. Add some oil leak stop? Brake fluid to swell the seals? Which one?
One Indy said it was the upper oil pan (after replacing the bottom oil pan)— no change in the drip rate.
Another Indy said definitely not the upper pan but can’t find where it’s leaking.
I did a look today. I have a drip from the tranny bell housing and half way up the bell housing. How to determine unambiguous if it is oil or ATF. I put some dye in the oil and ran the car for 10 minutes. Didn’t see the dye in the drip but it’s only slightly green with a UV light by the dipstick.
This drip is very bothersome for it dribbling back to the Cat and then smokes get sucked into the HVAC. If oil leak likely too expensive to repair. Add some oil leak stop? Brake fluid to swell the seals? Which one?
Last edited by dave2001auto; Nov 12, 2018 at 11:02 PM.
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2013 C300 4matic Sport sedan
TC drainplug on 2013 w204 722.9+
After exhaustive research on the subject I have concluded 2 things. 1. The my13 and probably my14 722.9+ DOES have a drainplug BUT... 2. It's not actually accessible when assembled. All other threads, videos, diy's, show the plug hole on the bottom of the housing in front (engine side) of the transmission oil pan with a large oval plug and hole. There must have been a redesign because the access hole is now VERY small and rectangular and positioned at the 4 o'clock position of the bell housing. You can remove all the brackets to access the location and you can even use a specialized offset ratcheting bit wrench with a 4mm hex head bit to break the bolt loose. I used a 72 tooth ratchet and was only able to get literally 1 click at a time due to the ignorant deign of the access port. And due to the orientation of the plug to the TC you CANNOT go at it from a straight angle. You're forced to go at it from a 90° angle which severely limits your access. Theoretically you can remove the plug and drain the fluid but if you drop the bolt or the bit you're in trouble and it could possibly require a teardown of the transmission/bellhouse to retrieve it. You might get lucky with a magnetic pick up tool but its VERY risky. The biggest problem lies in the reinstalling of said bolt. There really is no feasible way to start the threading of the bolt for reinstallation. The port is just too tight. I have pictures to show what I'm talking about but it let me upload anything from my phone for some reason. I will continue to try and get the pics posted.
