Hey guys,
I need some group expertise here...
Yesterday my 1999 C43 (722.631) went into limp home mode. I "rebooted" (turned car off/on) it was OK for a bit, then it started surging & searching for gears and the CEL went on. Got it home. Took it in to an indy shop today, the guy said that the ATF was a little low, topped that off and read the codes. Nothing definative so he wasn't sure what to do. There were a bunch of codes that related to limp home mode, but the significant ones were:

116 - Engine starts with a delay
Shift linkage adjusted incorrectly
Adjust shift linkage

Plunger of starter lock out is stuck
Replace electrical conductor plate

151 - selected gear not attained
ATF oil level
Shift pressure regulating solenoid valve
Command or regulating, shift control valve

He wrote:
could be a number of things: MAF, transmission conducting plate, or needs a transmission overhaul.

So basically he said that he didn't know what it was. Since I do want to get this fixed with a minimum of pain, I figure that I either have to go to a MB only shop (he does Porsches, BMW, MB) or go to a high volume stealership (i.e. Smythe) that might have seen this before. I really don't have any confidence that a stealership would do a better job, and like this guy might just start replacing random stuff to see if it fixes the problem, on my dime of course (do techs even troubleshoot any more??)

So I guess that I am just looking for suggestion/other options to get this fixed without chasing a bunch of very expensive wild geese. And with the thing only being worth $10K now, is it even worth spending $6K on a new transmission (if it comes to that?)
Thanks for your help.

 

its not even if it is worth getting a new trans but you kind of have to would you rather throw the car away.... i didnt thinks so... and i got a brand new trans and rebuilt the torque conv. for only $4800 at my mechanic he is really good at his job and has had over 30 yrs of experience and now she is running like brand new.....

 

Look at this thread : https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...ansmission+vrp

 

Well,at this point...


Thanks for the linky C43AMG, seems like a pretty good value, even at $5200 rather than $3950...

 

unfortunately, an irresponsible driver struck my C43 last week and its totalled. was obsidian blk 98 w/2 tone. im super pissed because i dropped a new tranny in 'er 1100 miles b4 it was wrecked. Im getting the salvage, i want a bunch of parts and then im selling the wrecked remains to potomac auto. If you want i can sell you a rebuilt transmission with all the stuff certified that has only 1100 miles on it. the tranny still has 26k miles of warranty (comes with tq conv) this is a 4k unit let me know if you need a tranny ill sell it to you if you want.

pretty bummed about the c43 im about to buy another one, found one in NJ that has 50k miles on it i think ima buy it, but not before i buy a beater w202 c230k to put the miles on. Atlanta traffic is horrendous and people dont know how to drive, ive only had the pleasure of totalling one of my 3 mercedes now. im just gonna drive the beater in traffic and the 43 when its quieter on the roads....

 

Oh man that so totally sucks!
I'll let you know if I am in the market for one or not. The guy I talked to today seemed to think that it might be electrical, i.e. the transmission shift plate (?) or something...
Going to Peter Schmidt (sp?) transmission in Burlingame (CA) tomorrow, supposed to be an MB transmission specialist. I will report back.

 

not to jack this thread but i need the vent under the driver's side and the rubber surrounding the driver's side rear door, are you willing to sell it? that's all i need thanks and sorry to the op

 

eh, i kinda need bigger ticket items if people wanted to buy parts because im contemplating getting the salvage title... i probably will get it, though

so yes, i would technically be able to sell you that part. im meeting with my insurance agent to get the salvage handled and the difference pay-out. its a pretty ****ty process so it might take a couple more days.

Cant wait to be cruisin back around in a C43. what do you guys think black or silver? i really liked the obsidian black but i also really like how you can see the cuts on the body kit way better on the silver...

 

i have a black one for sale also.. see classifieds, its somewhere there i think or go check in classifieds section in club202. thanks

 

Did'nt you just buy this car? Is this also totalled Benz #2?

 

look man dont give me a hard time about it. i loved that car, its not my fault i drive 2200 miles a month in the top3 most populated traffic cities in the us! yes i now have a wrecked 96 c280, 97 c280, and my obsidian black c43.

i have decided to take the salvage title. so if anyone wants little parts for their c43 here and there ill be willing to accommodate. the tranny i think is already sold i have a person greatly interested in it, but the rest of the car (minus the seats) can be parted out.

 

If you're planning to keep the seats and put them in something besides an AMG, not sure if you are aware or not, but the air pump is back in the trunk. You'll have to run all of the lines under the carpet and what not. Sorry to hear about the 43. Good luck with everything. I'm in the market for a new daily as well.

 

thats what im sayin im buying an everyday 2000 c280 sport (with seat warmers) and swapping the interior with the c43 so i can have the adjustable lumbar and stuff. i am aware that the pump has to be migrated over as well its not a big deal if the interior is gettin swapped anyway the lines can be run under the carpet easily.

then im going to purchase another c43 and leave that one in the garage for occasional driving, namely not in rush hour traffic conditions

 

SeeKlasse , pm sent !

 

seeklasse-i'm still waiting for your reply regarding the vent under the driver's side and the rubber surrounding the door

 

I'm FN screwed... They dropped the pan & saw chunks... their guess is the freewheel. Which is kinda weird because I think that is what went when I took it in under warranty at 40K... Arg... Looking at $4K now... Almost 1/2 of what the car is worth!

 

If you're going to spend $4k......see post # 3.

 

Thanks for the link C43AMG, but I decided to have the local guys rebuild the transmission. He said that he would charge me the same as what he gets a rebuilt in at wholesale - $2575. But afterwards, I was thinking that I am NOT getting a whole new rebuilt, they are rebuilding mine. Shouldn't they just charge me for parts used?? Which I am guessing is way less than $2600...

A few other tips from perusing these pages:
from the "C43 Transmission issues, possible cause” thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c43-amg-w202/219239-c43-transmission-issues-possible-cause.html

there were two places mentioned, I called both. The first comments are from the OP (Kropf), and then mine:

Phoenix Remanufactured Transmissions
http://www.phoenixhardparts.com/
(Busy outfit sells on eBay also. Member of BBB with lots of complaints, but all 'resolved'. Up to 4 year warranty parts/labor/shipping.)

1-800-399-5540
1-623-936-1500

My quote for a 722.631 was:
$1495
$295 torque converter
$300 shipping (both ways)
$750 core charge.
(Fluid would be extra)

$2840 - $750 = $2090

However, it would be 7-10 biz days to build, then ship out, so looking at two – three weeks minimum for downtime. Also, he runs though an eBay shop and "THE AUCTION IS ENDING, YOU HAVE TO BUY NOOOOOWWW" (emphasis added by me, but that is how it felt.)

The other place mentioned was
Silver Star Transmission
http://silverstartransmission.com/index.htm
in Oklahoma I think.
OP's comments:

(Smaller outfit, BBB accredited with no complaints, only 1 yr warranty. "All 722.6 trans include updated (new angle) gear sets and update valve body" "OEM parts" "#1 remanufacturer of M-B trans.")

My quote for a 722.631 was:
$2295 including torque converter AND fluid
$500 core charge.
About $260 shipping (one way, they pay the other way)
2295+260 = $3055

$3055 - $500 = $2795

If I put my order in last Friday, they would possibly get it done Tues, ship out 3-5 days, maybe get it by Fri/Monday

So even with no tax on parts (coming from OK) +$700 labor (local guy's quote) that is only $100 less that doing it locally.

So my totals are looking like this:
re-be my trans:
$2575
Nine qts at $11 ea (9 seems like a lot??)
$99
Total parts = $2674
tax = $220.61
labor = $700

Total = 3594.61

Oh, the place is:
MZF Transmission service, also known as Peter Schmid

http://peterschmid.com/
I'll let you know how close they stay to that estimate.

So just adding in more data for those in need, hope that this helps.

 

thanks for the info.. i hope everything goes well on your rebuild. keep us posted man

 

http://www.germantransmissions.com/sc5_warranty.asp
12/12000 or 24/24000 warranty for 275 more.
pays to drain the fluid and change the filter every 50k miles.

mb spec fluid

 

I called the toll-free number from their web site (888-908-6308) about Mar. 6, 2008, and again moments ago.
"The toll-free number you have dialed has been disconnected. No further information is available about this number."
Therefore, I would certainly not trust them for a rebuilt tranny, and much less for a 12 or 24 month warranty!
(Which is why I did not include them in my earlier post.)

 

SeeKlasse, I sent you a PM, please check.

Thanks.

 

Thanks, me too!
I also get a two year/unltd mileage warranty on this one.

 

where are you from? i'm from the bay area too, maybe we can do a little meet when you get your tranny fixed. pm me your cel number and your name. i don't like putting usernames on my cell.

 

Just a quick update. When they took it apart, the only thing that they saw so far was on the output shaft. There are two washers and one broke apart, that was the what the chunks were in the pan. Freewheel appears intact... Going ahead with the rebuild. S/b done by Friday.