vibrating sound from the rear wheels area



Any ideas what this could be?
I read this online but no idea if that sound like what I'm hearing. Also my is very intermittent and coming from the rear.
"A vibration felt through the center floor of the vehicle can be caused by driveshaft flex discs, which crack and shred, causing excessive driveshaft movement. Not repairing these can cause damage to the driveshaft center support bearing, or, in the worst case scenario, damage to the transmission or differential."
I know its a bit hard to deal with noises etc threw a forum but perhaps someone had exact same symptoms.
Thanks
Darius



It is only when putting slight pressure on the accelerator and not all the time. My drive is 4 miles to the train station 40-55mph roads and I hear it maybe 6 times in total, each lasting maybe ~5+ sec. If I let go of the accelerator it instantly stops. Press again and most of the time its all quiet. Then maybe 30 sec later while pressing the accelerator just to maintain the speed, I might hear it again or not
There is a thread at the benzworld.org about the issue with the "Faulty radiator cooler tanks causing transmission failure". Hopefully its not that bad. As I posted there, there are no transmission symptoms I can detect. No transmission slipping, clean shifts, no hesitation. Car runs great besides this. I checked the coolant and it looked good. I can't check the trans fluid as there is no dipstick as I'm sure you know and the one needed is extra long so can't use one from the other car.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w209...ion-noise.html
Not so sure about bearings as It sounds nothing like the whining sound I had when the bearings in my Mitsubishi 3000GTSL were going bad. But then I have no idea what other sounds bearings can make

Another idea is the "check the center propshaft bearing first" over the benzforum.com
I'm taking it in on Monday to the Mercedes dealer. I have extended GM warranty (hopefully it will not be killed now after the GM developments) and hopefully it will cover this.
Thank you for your help
Darius
Can't you jack up the rear, one side at a time, and check the wheels by spinning them? Worn bearings should exhibit excessive 'play' at the hub when pulled hard. You can certainly 'feel' it.
1) A/C takes to long to cool cabin; on-going symptom since purchase in 2003
2) headrest wont adjust all the way down, at least 1-inch gap between bottom of headrest and top of seat back
3) oil leak on driver side valve cover
4) trransmission shift roughly between 1, 2, 3 and 4 gear; with intermittent vibration sound like tires rolling over grated cement surface
5) transmission connector line leaks
verdict:
1) nothing can be done about the A/C; characterictic of that model type and year.
2) reprogrammed both headrest and now works as expected, no charge, warranty item.
3) replaced both left and right valve cover gaskets; no charge - warranty item.
4) original "Valeo" radiator replaced by another Valeo raditor, mfg date May 2008, made in Poland. Tech notes indicated leaks with transmission cooler; no charge - wanrranty item. be persistent with the service advisor and have him/her address and resolve this issue with the coolant leak in the transmission. MBZ is aware of this issue with the W209 clk.
5) replaced transmission connector hose/line, no charge - warranty item.
got the vehicle back on 6/2/09. dealer paid 5-day rental for a c300. all work was completed by 5/29/09 friday afternoon except for the transmission issue. dealer kept the car all saturday, closed on sunday, all monday and half of tuesday to resolve the transmission problem. out of pocket expense was $700 for the flex b maintenance and front brake pads replacement; $700 is on the high side but so glad those other items were covered under exended warranty.



I will also report back the results with my dealer sometime next week.
Thank you much
Darius
Last edited by dariusf; Jun 4, 2009 at 07:39 AM.
Trending Topics



FAULTY RADIATOR COOLER TANKS
Causes transmission failure
According to Mercedes Benz Star Bulletin #P-B 27.55/50f, dated March 24, 2006, there is a problem with Valeo radiators up to production date 9/2003 installed in models:
203.040/061/064/065/081/084/261/264/281/284/740/747/746 also
209.365/375/376/465/475 and finally
211.065/070/076/083/265/283
The problem occurs when the coolant leaks from the defective radiator through the cooler tank into the transmission, resulting in damage to the transmission and torque converter. Unlike earlier types of coolant and transmission fluids synthetic coolant and transmission fluid mix very well together. Mercedes does offer a test kit to check for the presence of glycol in the trans fluid, but this test is expensive and even if the test is negative at the time there is no guarantee that a leak won't occur later. In event of transmission failure it is STRONGLY recommended to replace the radiator as part of the repair on any of the above listed automobiles.
---------------
Not sure where to find the exact model of my 2003 CLK320, anyone know?
Last edited by dariusf; Jun 4, 2009 at 07:37 AM.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG



I'm going to get the control module reset today after work. Wish me luck
Will post back the results...
FAULTY RADIATOR COOLER TANKS
Causes transmission failure
According to Mercedes Benz Star Bulletin #P-B 27.55/50f, dated March 24, 2006, there is a problem with Valeo radiators up to production date 9/2003 installed in models:
203.040/061/064/065/081/084/261/264/281/284/740/747/746 also
209.365/375/376/465/475 and finally
211.065/070/076/083/265/283
The problem occurs when the coolant leaks from the defective radiator through the cooler tank into the transmission, resulting in damage to the transmission and torque converter. Unlike earlier types of coolant and transmission fluids synthetic coolant and transmission fluid mix very well together. Mercedes does offer a test kit to check for the presence of glycol in the trans fluid, but this test is expensive and even if the test is negative at the time there is no guarantee that a leak won't occur later. In event of transmission failure it is STRONGLY recommended to replace the radiator as part of the repair on any of the above listed automobiles.
---------------
Not sure where to find the exact model of my 2003 CLK320, anyone know?
thanks for the info guys every one so nice and helpfull lol



I know some people had the radiator replaced with a flush of the trans to fix this. Others had to have the trans replaced as well. Talking with the Mercedes mechanic, he told me that if it was his car, he would have the trans replaced as well do to the radiator fluid damaging the trans. So just a radiator change and trans fluid flush is a partial fix and you can very well have trans issues. Unfortunately for the people with out extended warranty this is a very costly repair. ~ $5k
I had the transmission control module reset and it did not help at all so its not it and has to be the radiator issue. Note that my trans fluid and radiator fluid '"look" fine but there is no way to tell for sure with out doing the test to check for the presence of glycol in the trans fluid.
Personally I feel that Mercedes acknowledged the issue with the Mercedes Benz Star Bulletin #P-B 27.55/50f, dated March 24 2006. They knows very well that there was a design or production problem with the radiator that would cause the leak. This should be handled as a recall and fully covered by Mercedes. This would be the right thing to do but from all I have read its not what they are doing.
Perhaps if enough people would press the issue with the Mercedes directly, they would do something about it. Class action lawsuit anyone?
(






Tks....Scarlett
Scarlett



Tks....Scarlett
I will also report back the results with my dealer sometime next week.
Thank you much
Darius
The symptoms you describe are sometimes the beginning stages of a failing transmission/torque converter.
Not sure about a full tranny flush but then they put it back together, they do use 12 quarts of tranny fluid.
I will keep up on here and let you know how it all works out!
Good lkuck with your baby too!
Scarlett



I will keep up on here and let you know how it all works out!
Good lkuck with your baby too!
Scarlett
I have always said I would rather be lucky than smart....but...luck never seemed to happen...until now...Thank You so much to whom ever gave it!
Yes....I agree about the new vs rebuilt tranny...and....transfer case...When we thought it was just the transfer case, and, I didn't know about the glycol problem yet, I would have gone for a new transfer case, out of my own pocket ( about 2700) but, I sure didn't want to....so....I am not asking for anything that I wouldn't have been willing to do myself...( except I think I was drawing the line on a new $7000.00 tranny.....) The dealer I am using is being up front....and...has given me a loaner to use for the duration of this saga...that is good too.....They will not have the radiator until tomorrow, so, Mon should tell the story for the flush....I have no clue when this all started, but, I began to hear strange noises about 6 weeks ago...I do not put alot of miles on the car, so, there maybe only a couple of hundred....but..I will tell you...the way she sounded on Tues when we took her to the dealer, it wasn't good....
In talking to someone that knows a lot about how all car manufacture'
s work, there was no recall because this was not a saftey issue...that is the only time that there is a manufacture recall....according to the person I spoke to.....who doesn't work for any manufacturer....Interesting...



As for the recall, that sounds about right, but I expected a bit more from a company like Mercedes. After all their image should matter to them. They knew about the problem, a manufacturing defect or a design defect. They knew the consequences and the cost associated with repair if not fixed early. They should have replaced all the radiators right away to avoid the more costly damage down the line. They tried to save a few $ while damaging their reputation and greatly effecting the pocket book of their customers. I call this greed and disregard for ones customers and think it is unacceptable from any company not to mention Mercedes with their 'elite' and expansive products.
Anyway, sorry for going off but I'm both pissed and disappointed.
That said the Mercedes dealer I took it to was great and hopefully we will have a positive outcome in the end. I just dropped it off yesterday and should know the diagnosis in a couple days.



I agree with you...I thought that Mercedes would be more stand up in admitting a problem...especially one like this one...it would be devestating...with out the warranty....
How is your car coming along? Same deal?? I will say that while the Mercedes dealer I am using is not the closest to me....they do seem to be real nice, through, and, keep intouch kind of people...


