Things always happen in 3s?
So what exactly are the symptoms of glycol contamination? I thank all these cars have that 1500-2k rpm jerk that everyone talks about, and I am not experiencing anything else unusual at the moment but I want to know exactly what to stay vigilant for. It does have a Valeo radiator, I dont really have the time or means to swap it out right now just as a precaution but I will when I am able.
What are the symptoms that would send a smart owner straight to the shop for the test. Sluggish off the line? Hesitation or jerky acceleration?
Only way you'll really know is by doing a glycol test on your tranny fluid. I think you can get tested for around $40-60. There's a link on the w203 forum.
A behr radiator is $150 on ebay.
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Transmission Ratios
1st gear - 3.59:1
2nd gear - 2.19:1
3rd gear - 1.41:1
4th gear - 1.00:1
5th gear - 0.83:1
Reverse - 3.16:1
Final drive - 3.06:1
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Transmission Ratios
1st gear - 3.59:1
2nd gear - 2.19:1
3rd gear - 1.41:1
4th gear - 1.00:1
5th gear - 0.83:1
Reverse - 3.16:1
Final drive - 3.06:1
Transmission Ratios
1st gear - 3.59:1
2nd gear - 2.19:1
3rd gear - 1.41:1
4th gear - 1.00:1
5th gear - 0.83:1
Reverse - 3.16:1
Final drive - 3.06:1
ETC - Electronic transmission control
MB Number: 0305453032
HW version: 47.2005
SW version: 03.2002
Diagnosis version: 2/1
Pin: 11
so i'm guessing the dealer replaced the TCU for the previous owner in '05, and it appears that the software is from '02. STAR said that their were no updates for my TCU. STAR did not have any options to flash '03 software for my car. the STAR version is 5.8.7/02/2008
why would a TCU that was made in 2005 have software from 2002?
any ideas?
Last edited by Dingleberry; Jan 19, 2010 at 05:06 PM.
The EGS/ETC unit (transmission control unit) is located in the passenger front footwell under the aluminum kickplate. Pull back the carpet from above, unscrew the three plastic nuts and flip the aluminum kickplate over, and voila
Thanks to moorfan for some if this info.
It appears as if the wrecked 03 TCM that I paid $375 for was actually a new unit. I was told that these can only be programmed once and the tech at the dealership was shocked when the "wrecked 03" TCM took a reflash / re-code for my car. I brushed it off after he said it, but as I told moorfan via PM, the TCM arrived in a sealed static bag with a white mercedes sticker over it. It looked as if the bag had never been opened. The TCM itself was scratched though.
I can say that my jerk is now gone and if memory serves me right, I have over 2k on the car since I switched TCM's.
this is part of the reason there is only "so much" that the car can handle in mods-at some point you start to over drive the car, tranny, body, suspension, ect-
as for the jerk...I think thats just a bug in the car in general-I dont know that messing with the TCU or TCM is worth it imho-
you could try the tranny mod that Hooley posted about-larger flow rates, ect
this is part of the reason there is only "so much" that the car can handle in mods-at some point you start to over drive the car, tranny, body, suspension, ect-
as for the jerk...I think thats just a bug in the car in general-I dont know that messing with the TCU or TCM is worth it imho-
you could try the tranny mod that Hooley posted about-larger flow rates, ect



