JimPap

hpatel44

I've got the same situation on my 08 C300 identical to your vehicle.

My service advisor said that there is no way to drain the torque converter since there are no drain plugs on it. He went on to say that their dealership doesn't drain TCs on any MB which clearly is wrong.

Then when I asked on this thread, I get conflicting answers. It might have to do with which country of destination its intended for but I really don't know.

I really don't want to become a transmission expert just to be sure that the dealer did the job right.

Glyn M Ruck

Jim - If your car W204 has a 7 speed transmission it has a TC drain. Only W204 models without are diesels with the old 5 speed.

MBUSA & many dealers are clueless.

I have provided the global WIS document on servicing the 7 speed. Your dealers just lie to people.

Fortunately there are some that do the job correctly.

hpatel44

Glyn - Thanks for the information. I am going to call them on Monday and ask to speak to the manager and see what they will do to resolve this half a$$ job they did. If they don't cooperate then i will be sending a letter to the corporate office?

Domm

I really don't understand why they refuse to do it. It isn't a complimentary service. You're paying them for the labor and materials because they are trained and certified to work on these vehicles. I don't know of any mechanics that feel lazy enough to refuse money based on the request of the customer.

Do what it takes to get your car serviced correctly.

Boris0126

Where did u guys find Print out of the transmission fluid change document so I can bring it to my dealership so I can show it to them?

hpatel44

See page one with response from Glyn M Ruck. He has posted the pdf file.

Here:

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...ter_change.pdf

hpatel44

JimPap - My SA first told me that they will drain the TC and then when I arrived to pay the bill I noticed only 5Qts were used. Then I questioned it and he told me that per a "Memo" they received and talking to his Manager they were told that this is no longer done. I am going to call them Monday morning and discuss this with my SA and take it from there.

Boris0126

Hpatel44 thanks for the help

JimPap

See if you can get it in writing....which I'm pretty sure they won't furnish.

JimPap

Thanks for the link to the WIS document for servicing the 7 speed.

You noted that MBUSA is clueless which hints that they may not even be recommending it. How does this work? Does MBUSA issue the maintenance requirements that dealers then implement and supercedes WIS?? Is MBUSA actually owned by Mercedes or is it a seperate corporation?

By any chance, do you have a photo or link to where the drain plug is on the Torque Converter? My SA said that there wasn't a drain plug and I'd like to be able to show it to him.

Glyn M Ruck

MBUSA is owned by Benz but a separately registered Corp under US law. They have a history of irritating the mothership in Stuttgart.

Here is the WIS document on how to drain the converter - simple! Please note that when they talk about a drain on the 722.6 they are talking pre 1999 before it was removed.

All 722.9 transmissions fitted to W204 have a TC drain.

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...-converter.pdf

hpatel44

Just got off the phone with the SA. He said from moving forward they are not going to drain the TC anymore because that was the decision that particular dealership has made. He said even if the customer requests it they will let them know that they will not do this. Now I asked to get some kind of refund because he did tell me at first that they will drain the TC. He told me that he will check with his manager and call me back since he also had someone at his desk. He also mentioned that since the dealerships are privately owned the decision is theirs because I told him that I called other places and they do drain the TC.

Glyn M Ruck

Ah! now the truth is coming out in your case. Too lazy ~ but they still charge for a full service sans the fluid.

I sincerely hope you get a refund.

JimPap

hpatel44

Where are you located?

hpatel44

I was able to talk to the manager today and he referenced the pdf document that Glyn M Ruck posted. It seemed like the manager at the dealership had the same document because he read the exact numbers off of the document (AP27.00-P-2702W) when I spoke to him today. He read line 6 which mentions to drain the fluid from TC with the exception of transmission 722.93. I am always 100% positive that I have the 722.9 because I have the 2008 C300 Sport 7 speed. He asked me to bring in the car this week and they will put it up and confirm if there is a plug for the TC (from reading the forums I think this will not be an issue). If so he said they will start giving this option to their customers and I am hoping they will also take care of this for me. I am going to definitely print all the documents and bring them with me again.

Domm

good job. Make sure he doesn't try to charge you for another transmission fluid service.

Glyn M Ruck

The only 722.9 transmission without a TC drain was the very early version fitted to the S Class.

MBIAN

what a marvelous resource we have here. And, in particular what a reference we have in Glyn M Ruck, thank you so much.

I followed up with with dealer like so...

I understand that the TC has not been drained...

Dealer explanation, explanation, explanation...

...I am not an engineer, however as an economist I am detailed and thorough and shall return with my findings...

...Dealer ?!?

...I have been guided by the WIS, please refer to page 2 box 6...

The dealer was then extremely gracious and invited me to return and have the work completed as specified.

I sense form this forum that MBUSA is weak at communicating with it's dealers.

This car was originally a short term fix for our family, though I now see it being given to our daughter (she is heading to college later this year). And because of the way in which the dealer handled this, it is very likely that both an M (my wife) and an S shall be chosen this summer.

So in an nutshell, the WIS dictated how the service should be performed. At least that is how I read it.

Cheers,

Ian

Glyn M Ruck

The entire WIS is loaded on a dealer's Star computer diagnostic machine. All they need to do is read it.

royruan

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all the insights and comments. After submitting negative feedbacks in their online survey, I got a call and e-mail from the dealer.

They said they did in fact drain my torque converter as the WIS document entails.

Here comes their reply:

" It appears there is a misunderstanding on your Transmission service. First off let me assure you we did in fact drain your torque converter as the WIS document entails. In our service facility we use bulk oil for our engine oil and transmission oil. In order to keep our prices below our local competitors we charge out less oil then needed as well as less money per hour of labor. 6qts is just a round number our parts department uses for transmission services. That keeps our prices less than everyone else in our state, and why so many people come down from Canada for services with us. Please let me know if you have any other questions."

It seems to me that they are simply trying to cover it up.

royruan

LILBENZ230

Sounds like a cover-up.. I'd ask these dumbass dealers if they aren't going to properly service the transmissions would they be willing to put in writing that the service they are doing is sufficient?

JimPap

royruan,

What a load of crap.

Glyn M Ruck

Sounds like a lot of nonsense to me!

hpatel44

Good News!
Manager from the dealer called me today and confirmed with me that the TC does have a drain plug and they will be doing a new transmission fluid change at no cost. He mentioned that it takes about 9.5 quarts and has asked me to bring in the car on Friday and leave it overnight since the car has to be on the cooler side when changing the fluid. He said since the filter was changed he didn't think that would need to be changed again. Do you agree or should I have them also change the filter again? Is there anything else that I'm missing?

Thank you all for your comments regarding the Transmission fluid change! This has been a very good learning experience.

Domm

You have to leave the car overnight to drain the transmission fluid? I agree that the fluid should be allowed to cool down or it would be blisteringly hot. My biggest concern is that they "say" they changed the fluid and theres really no way of you to check since you won't be billed. But maybe thats just a far-fetched thought that would not happen.

I would change filters because: 1. its free 2. the contaminated fluid and whatever is in it had been passing through the filter already and.. 3. its free Are they planning on changing everything else aside from the filter?