Saaboteur

Still confused. What I've done so far since the last post:

1. undid all engine to trans bolts, tried to separate engine and trans enough to attempt to pry at the converter, to push it further into the trans
2. unsuccessful (or so I thought) so removed the engine - which wasn't too bad actually, as all the fasteners were nicely cleaned and coated with anti-seize when I put the engine in, plus now I know where everything is to undo
3. inspected front pump area of trans and converter, nothing seemed out of the ordinary
4. re-installed converter, and mated up the engine and trans again
5. attempted to turn engine over with ratchet on crank pulley - no joy, stuck again! wouldn't even budge
6. said f*ck it and removed the engine again for further inspection

Steps 2 to 6 all occurred on Sunday afternoon! Very tiring.

Looking back, I think I had actually bolted everything together properly, with the exception of not lining up the flywheel and converter initially. The converter's mounting faces sit into slots on the lywheel. If they aren't lined up, the converter will interfere with the flywheel, the tolerances are that tight. However, prior to firing up the engine, I had rectified that - by unbolting the engine to trans bolts and rotating the two so that they were 'in synch'. But, perhaps the improper mating caused some damage to the flywheel - and the shutters for the crank sensor are on the flywheel too. That said, there is nothing really out of the ordinary on a visual inspection.

Then last night I also noticed that the cam sensors are different part numbers. Thinking that this may have been the issue, I was rejoicing - but it turns out that the later number is just an update number, and the two SHOULD be compatible. But maybe the car requires the ECU reset to clear all adaptive memory?!? No idea there. My mechanic buddy told me to try to disconnect the battery and connect up the negative and positive cables for five minutes or so to clear the adaptive memory.

I'm also pretty convinced I have the converter properly seated into the trans. All measurements and indications from other research (thanks to Money-One and nhmercracer for their input) seem to point in that direction.

So I am going to swap in the original C43 flywheel and the original cam sensor, then bolt it all back together. Fingers crossed that will work.

horgantrevor

hi are you fitting the e55 gearbox to the engine or the c43 gearbox

Saaboteur

Original gearbox.

horgantrevor

do i have you right that you removed the c43 engine and fitted the e55 one well then you will need to use a e55 gearbox as the gearing will be all wrong for the c43 box

Saaboteur

That's right, the 4.3's been removed, and the 5.4 is going in. Many guys have done this swap before, so the gearbox itself should not be an issue.

horgantrevor

yes you can get it to work but for the best results the gearbox change also is the better option

here is a post of a guy in england that did what you did you may fine great tips i know you will


http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/sh...&highlight=c55

horgantrevor

it looks like they fitted the c43 gearbox to the e55 engine and then fitted it to the car easier

Saaboteur

I've seen that thread and have gone through it before, and saw that he had sprung for a rebuilt gearbox. I wish I had the funds to do that. I'll remove my gearbox if necessary to mate it up to the engine, but it really shouldn't be necessary. The WIS has a set of instructions for removing the trans with the engine still in the car. But in my case, removing the trans will be a bigger pain as I don't have a hoist at home (and the car will need to be jacked up quite high to get the trans out) plus all of the exhaust fasteners are rusted or seized, so that will be a big issue.

I'm planning to try again with mating up the engine and trans this weekend, maybe before them - but this time paying much more attention to the synch'ing of the flywheel and converter. Previously, I hadn't done that.

I'm also going to swap in the 43's flywheel, just in case something happened to the 55's. They are the same part number, thank goodness.

horgantrevor

good luck i know soon she will be purring like a tiger as she roar's down the road

then you will need new back tyre's

nhmercracer

I have been thinking about this, and now think you might want to rethink the transmission. At first, I thought the original transmission might be the way to go. Now I think the 55's transmission might be the best solution. There are about two dozen different torque converter / flex-plate pairs for the 722.6. I would tend to believe the 43/55 flex-plate is the same, but perhaps there have been changes none of us are aware of.

The only issue you may have would be the brake-shift interlock which prevents the transmission from being shifted from park without depressing the brake pedal. For the my 2000, the function of the interlock was changed from mechanical via cable, to electrical via the brake light switch, and an electro-mechanical device in the shifter itself. The newer shifter will not retrofit easily, as the signaling from the shifter to the TCU is changed from discrete signals, to the CAN bus.

You can either remove the cable completely, or pull it back through the transmission tunnel. I like the total removal option, as there is no chance of it causing brake pedal interference at some later date.

Your TCU will run the newer transmission just fine. I would, at some time, consult the dealership, and see about the latest TCU firmware for the C43/202. I believe there were some changes made for the later MY 2000 units.

Saaboteur

Well, spent the weekend bolting everything back together, and she runs! That's the good news. The bad news is that she runs just barely. The idle is VERY rough, and frequently dies. Also, I think I fried the power steering pump the last time around, as I had neglected to fill it with fluid. Fail. To top it off, on a trackday event on Saturday with my S2000, the clutch master decided to pack it in too, so now I've got two non-running cars! Double fail!

Hope to have the S2000 up and running again soon, just need the clutch master. But the C43 is puzzling me. I tried swapping in another crank position sensor, and also another MAF, but no luck. There are no codes on the OBD2 scanner, but something is up for sure - as I was trying to run it this morning, the right side primary cat got red hot! That's not good. My mechanic friend said that there is a misfire causing the ECU to dump in too much unburnt fuel to that side, so I need to be careful.

I think once I swap out the power steering pump, I'm going to throw in the towel and have the car towed to the indy shop where they can hook up the Star diagnostics. Sheesh, I wish everything was more straightforward!! And I need the car soon, as it's getting cooler now and winter is just around the corner...I don't want to run the S2000 in snow (and it would need winter tires anyway) nor do I want to pick up a winter beater either...fingers crossed everything will be resolved soon (and not too much expense either!!!)

eundaddy

good luck with the car. there are a lot more 5.5's on mbclub.co.uk. the cps and the maf would have been my guesses too.

911mot

Haven't got the wires to the coil packs (or injectors) mixed up on that side have you? It sounds like an old school firing order problem to me. Best of luck, I start my E55 into C43 swap this week.

Saaboteur

Triple checked all wiring! No issues. May have to start investigating coils, but all were functional when removed from the car. I drove the car into the garage, and it was running fine then. Getting increasingly worried and depressed now!

DRBC43AMG

Come on Vince, keep up the spirit as you are so close to getting the thing running. I'm sure its a small bug somewhere. As you say, probably a good idea to get the car hooked onto a Star diagnosis. That will certainly point you in the right direction.
Sometimes things get frustrating. I know for certain having been down that road recently with my other MB. Whirring/grinding noise at low speed and distinctly louder turning right. Changed front wheel bearings, changed rotors and pads on the 4 wheels. Noise is still around. Probably not the tranny as when moving forward and putting it in neutral, the noise is still there and is speed related. Finally I have given up. Drove down to my trusty race technician (70 years old and still active in his workshop) who has serviced all my cars for ages. He also heard the noise but can't pin point the source for the moment. Even the local MB "stealer" didn't find anything. They just decided to change rear hypo oil (had been done a couple of months previously with all oil changes on the car). I am awaiting his call with the diagnosis and just hope it's not going to empty my bank account

hoontastic

What about center support bearing?

503C43 ////AMG

If your center support bearing goes you will hear and FEEL a knocking coming from the tranny tunnel

ask me how I know...

Saaboteur

It took me two hours to get the power steering pump out last night. Yikes. Five minute job with the engine out of the car.

Plan is to get the new pump on, the rest of the bits and pieces bolted up, and then have the car towed to the indy Benz shop, hooked up to the Star and see what's what, let them figure it out. Very depressing!

DRBC43AMG

Nah, not central support bearing. No vibration and I also recognize the noise when that is going out. Still havn't heard back from my tech.... Told him it wasn't urgent, but I'm impatient

Saaboteur

Power steering pump was back onto the car last night with much less fuss than removing it (surprisingly). Aided much by the fact that since the AC system has no refrigerant in it, I was able to disconnect the line, allowing much easier access to the bolts holding the pump.

Tow truck came this morning, and the car is at the indy shop now for their thoughts. Fingers crossed it won't be too expensive....

cm60k

Hi Saaboteur,

Thankss for that pics., thats very important issue to me,, in my C43 i got a round TB connector, and im soo interesting to put a new style square connector TB,

if i want to do that, can you tell me pls. which wire #s i should to switch, i brought that TB connector from 2002 CLK55....

ZAYED,,

DRBC43AMG

At first glance, both plugs have 6 pins. Have you checked the colors of the wiring? Same in both? If so splice the new plug to the old loom using the same colored wires. Assuming German engineering logic, the wires should be the same and do the same thing. Just my 2cents worth.

Saaboteur

Sorry Zayed, I have no idea on that. I just swapped the original C43 throttle body back onto the 55 engine's intake manifold. Seemed a lot easier than trying to muck around with wiring. At any rate, the wiring loom that came with my 55 engine was fire damaged, so I couldn't do any further wire swapping.

Saaboteur

Boo. Just spoke with the shop, and they have looked at the car but no firm answers yet. Still getting the same issues I was having - starts, no real idle quality, dies. The tech tried resetting the ECU with the Star, but no luck there either. He's apparently not had a lot of time to look at the car, so it'll be likely next week before I hear from them again. Unfortunately for that, it's a long weekend this weekend (Canadian Thanksgiving) so more waiting. Ah well. He had mentioned he thought it might be fuel related - maybe we should try the original injectors?!? That said, I wouldn't have thought it would make such a huge difference, but that's almost the only thing left to try...

503C43 ////AMG

This is not the update I was looking for I hope you get it all worked out SOON