My Car Has the Coolant Contamination Problem
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, CA
03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
My Car Has the Coolant Contamination Problem
I just got word that they found coolant contamination in my transmission and are going to replace it 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by Frisco
I just got word that they found coolant contamination in my transmission and are going to replace it
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,853
Likes: 1
From: Boston
CLK500/Range Rover HSE/E55 AMG/Bmw 328Xi coupe/BMW 4.8x/Bmw 335i/GS350/Audi S5/E350
Frisco, that is one of the issues with CLK's. Especially with 03 and 04's. My car, Jlee and Starr have had our transmissions replaced due to this issue. My car drives like new with out any issues.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, CA
03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
I forgot to mention that they told me that there is a recall on the door seal that's going to be announced shortly. I put the new sig up because of some plans that I have for the car in the future.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, CA
03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
There was a subtle grinding during gear shifts and a bit of forward and backward motion at constant low throttle around 2k rpm. They definitely do not cover any items modified, but pretty much all of the mods are cosmetic.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,853
Likes: 1
From: Boston
CLK500/Range Rover HSE/E55 AMG/Bmw 328Xi coupe/BMW 4.8x/Bmw 335i/GS350/Audi S5/E350
Cadet,
YOu will definately feel the grinding noises. ITs not subtle at all....i felt the grinding noises between 40-70 MPH when the gears were shifting...
YOu will definately feel the grinding noises. ITs not subtle at all....i felt the grinding noises between 40-70 MPH when the gears were shifting...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, CA
03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
It's still not clear to me what causes it. I just got an update (and saw the car on the lift) that they are changing out the radiator and all lines as well. The new transmission just arrived, and they said I should have the car back Mon or Tues.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Most auto transmissions are cooled by the radiator, so if they are replacing the radiator too, it seems there is trouble with the radiator or one of its related components infecting the trans with coolant.
Please Frisco, the next time you visit your car ask the tech or better yet the shop foreman what MB can do to prevent this problem from occuring in cars not yet affected.
Thanks!
Please Frisco, the next time you visit your car ask the tech or better yet the shop foreman what MB can do to prevent this problem from occuring in cars not yet affected.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, CA
03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
I wasn't able to get any more information about the problem. They replaced the radiator, all hoses, and the transmission. They also replaced the driver door lower seal.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by Frisco
I wasn't able to get any more information about the problem. They replaced the radiator, all hoses, and the transmission. They also replaced the driver door lower seal.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, CA
03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
It wasn't that bad - I just went right right at closing to pick it up. The service advisor was already gone for the day, and the only people around were the cashier who processed the paperwork and the parking attendant that pulled the car around.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 0
From: NYC
S550
weird, my grinding stopped but i still have hesitation...should i still take it in to benz?? maybe im missing the grind since i got used to it?? (i only get it from 2-1 downshifts but hesitation from most upshifts)
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Montclair, NJ
2003 CLK 320
Originally Posted by clkcadet
weird, my grinding stopped but i still have hesitation...should i still take it in to benz?? maybe im missing the grind since i got used to it?? (i only get it from 2-1 downshifts but hesitation from most upshifts)
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Montclair, NJ
2003 CLK 320
Originally Posted by clkcadet
frisco, what were some of the symptoms of this transmission problem? just so i can look out for them!
btw do you ever have any problems with warranty issues? or mbusa doesnt mind the mods?
btw do you ever have any problems with warranty issues? or mbusa doesnt mind the mods?
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Montclair, NJ
2003 CLK 320
Originally Posted by RJC
What can be done to prevent this problem from occuring and or what causes this to happen?
Thanks,
Thanks,
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Thanks Starr. It sounds like MB should be replacing the radiators on cars within a certain production range to prevent this problem. Knowing MB though,they won't and they'll have more unhappy cutomers with failed transmissions....
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
2003 CLK 320
transmission problems?
Just took 2003 clk in for my last free service with 33,000 miles and
they found radiator coolant in the transmission. Was told they are going to
flush coolant out and see if this works. If this does not work they are going
to replace transmission. Has anyone had this problem and what did they do?
My warranty is up in three days. any advice would be welcome.
thanks britton
they found radiator coolant in the transmission. Was told they are going to
flush coolant out and see if this works. If this does not work they are going
to replace transmission. Has anyone had this problem and what did they do?
My warranty is up in three days. any advice would be welcome.
thanks britton
Almost a Member!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
CLK350C
the radiator is actually the culprit. the new radiator being put in is an updated part to prevent this from occurring again. now don't confuse the bucking and jerking at low speeds with this same issue. the transmission control modules on the 03-05 clk320's cause that problem. the grinding and awkward shifting is what to look for with the contaminated trans. a glykol test is done first to verify the issue. if it has not damaged the trans, they will flush the trans, than replace the torque converter. Of course the transmission gets replaced last. Usually the first two steps do not resolve the issue, so the trans usually has to end up being replaced. good luck to those with the problem.
