nd4spd13

Alrighty guys, well the other week my friend and I had at it on an open stretch of dark highway (in lovely Mexico) and over all (2/3 good rounds, 2/4 total) he beat me very clearly. He drives an MK5 gti manual, and isn't the quickest shifter... so I presumably should have been all over that.

Because of this: There is a local C43 very close to me with only about 110k and some very nice paint, clean interior and a very clean engine. Unfortunately there is very little history on the car, and when I took it for a drive, it was pretty nice, although once during hard accel. it SLAMMED out of first into 2, and I later realized that I couldn't shift the shifter lower than D (or over into 4, I suppose is more correct). It definitely bumped a little when I put in in Reverse or drive and started driving, but that could have just been me pressing the accelerator too soon. Basically what I'm asking is: are these common symptoms of a going transmission that just about every C43 has? And if so, any indication of how bad it is/how soon it will totally die? I could definitely get the car for cheaper knowing this, but I don't know if it's worth the trouble of replacing the transmission in a few thousand miles. Any chance a nice fluid flush would cure or at least alleviate some of this? Also, they said they were going to take it to a mechanic next door after I told them about the issues. Is there anything a non-merc, non-C43 experienced mech might miss when troubleshooting the issue?
Thanks

DRBC43AMG

In my opinion, I would try a tranny and filter change. Check also the bottom of the pan and filter for any bad signs (traces of metal). Fill correctly and check the right level at the right operating temperature. If all OK and it drives good after that then it could be good to go. Do you know if the car has been driven "gangster" style?

503C43 ////AMG

Shifting from "D" to "4", "3","2", or "1" is no longer mechanical but rather electrical. After you shift into "D" the shifter no longer moves the shift linkage but uses electrical signals to tell the tranny to shift.

I have completely removed the shifter from my car and taken the shifter apart and have no idea what could cause this , it makes no sense

DRBC43AMG

Could be the electronic plate in the tranny

c43padre

My tranny went out at 98K, it made one loud clunk while driving at freeway speeds, then about a week later made a grinding sound when backing up. I parked it in my driveway, and that's where she stayed. The stealership told me it's $6-8k. When they took it apart, mine had pieces of the thrust bearing that is the weak link in these car's trannys. I found a shop in Sun Valley, CA that sold me a rebuilt one for about $2k with a newer style bearing that is much stronger. Been like new since. I have 119K now. So, use that information when pricing your new ride, you may be able to come out ahead.

MarcusF

SUN VALLEY: When you need it done right the first time

jullie smith

its so nice to visit here a nice thread. Am so impressed with your such a good hard work, its definitely a good and diferent idea for others, you guys are doing good work good luck, keep it up..

DRBC43AMG

That is one impressive list of transmission rebuilds

KJI3jflarryfe93

Is this a reputable shop fixing transmissions?
Would be great to know if this shop ships outside US?
Do they ask for the broken transmission in return?

DRBC43AMG

Hiya Denis,
Just shoot them a mail and ask, then keep us all posted. I could also be interested too (one day perhaps as far away as possible)

503C43 ////AMG

Found this:

"Another thing, when I received the car, the shifter won't shift into manual gears. It goes only on "R", "N" and "D". I had the car checked by my mechanic and he says that the "Shifter Assembly" needs to be replaced. Has anyone had any similar problem?"

From this thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...-problems.html

nhmercracer

Been there, not a pretty sight.

Here is what was left of my bearing.

c43padre

Like I said, this is where I bought mine. I had it shipped to San Diego, which is like 150 miles or so, to a shop that installed it. After about a week, I noticed it was leaking so I took it back to the shop that installed it and they confirmed it was the front seal. I called Sun Valley and told them about it and he paid to have my car towed back so he could install another one for me. So, IMHO that's about as reputable as it gets. Granted, it was an inconvenience, but all things considered, I'd still rate them 4.5/5.0 overall.

Oh, BTW I took Amtrack to the Burbank station and they sent someone over to pick me up. So for you local guys, save yourself the headache and just take it over there.

jomo559

Need help. Anything is greatly appreciated. Just bought a c43 2 months ago. Awesome car. Recently notice a leak dripping while the car is park. Jacked up the car and it is coming from an oil or maybe hydraulic line that feeds into the car from the middle (underneath the car). It is right next to the metal gear shifter when looking up from down underneath the car. Half of the line is covered with a black rubber star shape and the other half is white that connects to the tranny I suppose. It is leaking from the connection point. What is this oil/fluid line and why is it leaking? How to fix? Thanks for your help.

DRBC43AMG

Looks like you have a connector leak. Common problem and simple to fix. Go and get a tranny ATF and filter flush and get the plug changed at the same time.
Some reading here: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...ml#post3647190

Another thing, if the connector is leaking, make sure that ATF oil has not moved up the harness to the EGS module. If it has, hope that the module has not fried.

jomo559

Thank you DRBC43AMG. I will check that out tomorrow and see if it's the connector. I've read the thread you recommended and it doesn't seem that bad as a DIY. Hopefully that's the cause of the leak. Again, thanks.

cm60k

Hey guys, regarding tranny heat issue, do you think that small cooler in the right behind the fog light is enough to cool our tranny..!?!, im

thinking to swapping it to air cooler with fan, for example like the W140 S500/S600 one, in same time i need to put a cone filter

in same place, for cold intake, i can’t put that cone filter there, cause the bracket for that small cooler closed that area...!




ZAYED,,

cm60k

What’s happened to this C43........!?!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-C43...c2d634&vxp=mtr

ZAYED,,

LawRens

item removed?

cm60k

Ahh sorry, it has been showed up yesterday......!!!?!!!

ZAYED,,

nhmercracer

If you are thinking of bypassing the in-radiator cooler, I don't think that small cooler you have pictured will be enough. I would want something much larger.

B&M racing cooler with fan

cm60k

Agree with you, its a good idea,,

but i don’t think the W140 S500/S600 is small, its 8.5" length(height) & 8.3" width & 1.4" depth(thick)........

ZAYED,,

DRBC43AMG

Nice idea Zayed, and I imagine it is a necessary upgrade in your part of the World specially where summer temps get pretty high
However, just wondering what kind of temps the ATF gets up to under hard running conditions. If AMG did not feel necessary to upgrade the ATF cooling system for "normal" conditions, why do it. Understand also that if you ar towing something heavy or tracking hard, it would be ideal. Ideally somebody should get a sensor in the ATF circuit to register the temps.
Concerning that ATF rad, the fan must operate with a thermostatic switch somewhere. Anybody know?
What about a larger engine oil rad to cope with hard running conditions? Again, it would also be nice to know the temps engine oil gets to...

nd4spd13

For the stock rad or the B&M one? I read a bit on that link and the B&M one has a built in thermometer to one of the hose couplings. It's nice because to wire it up, you only have to supply a constant and a ground and the rad will switch on the fan when the temps get high enough.
Don't know about the merc one though

cm60k

Thankss,, we always want to upgrade our brides, sure why not,, especially when swapped 55s Engine with hard driving,,

also i don’t like to cooled a tranny from a radiator, im soo afraid if the cooler room cracked or something, then the oil well mixed with water....,

a good air cooling system with fan well be more safer,,

sure, im thinking about cooling the Engine either, maybe follow a 55k system,,

+1 cool = +1 hp.......

ZAYED,,