moostang

Whats up everyone,

I don't usually post but like to keep up on the forum. My CLK has been in
the shop for over a week .. 1st off, I'd like to thank Carmax for having a wonderful warranty... Very easy to deal with. 2nd, my car... after symptoms
of the tranny being lethargic, not wanting to shift out of 5th... , and vibrating
I took it in to the stealership.

After diagnosis, The TCU unit ( transmission control unit ) apparently failed.
After further testing .. they found Glyceril (?) inside the transmission. The radiator was leaking into the tranny. New radiator ordered and torque converter ordered and they are covering the complete '' flush '' and filters etc. I miss the CLK but am happy that I should be getting a '' new'' feeling
tranny / car.

Anybody else fall into a similar situation?



Patrick

Clkboi

ouch man sorry to hear about that. Seems like a common problem with your year.
Glad everything is being done and under warranty as well.

I had a problem with my hydraulic compartment under the transmission and it was fixed under extended warranty as well. ( Royale )


Good luck to you

Newjd2

shift up from 5th?...i thought it only had 5 gears in the 04?...



Angelo

moostang

I have a special gearbox .. takes me directly to the dealership.
I meant downshift

dynomite05

The dreaded glycol contamination. At least you're getting it fixed under warranty.

billyhead1

Wes - does this mean trans fluid is cooled by lines running to/thru the radiator? Is this a 500 thing or does it apply to the 320 as well?

dynomite05

I don't recall the exact problem, but it was specific to pre-faclift MB's. For a quick test, check your RAD. The Valeo's had the problem and they were replaced by Behr I believe. Here are a few links. A quick search for "Glycol" will bring up a ton of links

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...-replaced.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...esitation.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...ny-please.html

ahmadk

it applies to the 2003 320 mostly..
I have an 04 320 but didn't have any problems with my tranny till now (thank God)

Newjd2

yeahhhhhh....let's not scare me with this...but to ahmad's point I've also seen, read, and heard that it mostly occurs in the 03 models...



Angelo

dynomite05

That's the first thing I had them check when I bought my car. I have read about it happening to 04s though.

ahmadk

I think i'm gonna change the radiator... just to be on the safe side

Newjd2

Wes, I forget you even have an 04 320 because of the bumpers, skirts, and tail lights...lol...

So glycol check might be in line...my heart would break if this happened...lol...

I thought most of the tranny problems of the 03 were fixed in the 04 and then with the new 7 speed in the 05 problems came up, but were fixed in the 06+ models...



Angelo

dynomite05

lol, that's the idea. The first two links I posted above have some examples of 04s with the problem.

2MCHCAR

You and I have different experiences buddy. I've had bad experiences with the CarMax (Maxcare) warranty. When I first gotten the car, I used to take it back to the Carmax dealership for services, but I learned very quickly that they have no idea how to service a Mercedes. Carmax mechanics botched everyone of my complaints (except for the ones they sublet to an actual Mercedes dealership), and when I gotten my car back, I still had the same problems! I pull a U-Turn and go back to the dealership, tell them the problem is still there and they tell me "You left the premises, so now you have to make another appointment, maybe next week". NEXT WEEK?! I just left the service department 5 minutes ago and the car is barley drivable! NO WAY! I drove home and found an indy that I go to ever since. The Maxcare warranty (if you don't go to a Carmax to get serviced) only covers $60/hr labor and the appraiser makes it very hard to actually approve a repair (for instance, if a gasket is leaking; it has to be literally dripping big-time in order for it to be approve for replacement).

I pay extra to have my indy do my repairs, but I trust that he will do an excellent job on my CLK/ML (plus he's mod friendly, so he's good at hiding them from appraisers ) and that to me is worth the extra cost. Sorry for venting guys, but every-time I hear about the Carmax Warranty; my blood pressure goes sky-high.....

moostang

I'm sorry about the warranty trigger ... I bought the car from a private party and the warranty transferred. I never went to Carmax for anything , only straight to the dealership. I use an indy shop for my audi , and have always preferred indy's to dealers..
but in this '' warranty '' situation .. i've been fortunate.

billyhead1

Thanks for the links Wes! So it would seem that I'll need to find out what the build date of my car is and which radiator it has....

dynomite05

Yes, to be on the safe side.

directordat

the day before i took my car to a shop the car would get stuck everytime i stop and wouldn't move even if i stepped on the gas as hard as i could. i can hear the transmission gears just spinning luckily i was very close to the shop and my car actually started pulling a little bit.

spent 2300 for used transmission and everything totaled to 4500 with a discount.

one of the mechanics told me he found a transmission with 0 miles for 2600 off of a clk 500 they used in schools for mechanics or something but it was sold 30 mins later.

dynomite05

That would have been a nice buy.

billyhead1

Wes - those new black wheels look really nice.

Not to thread-jack, but what are the sizes of wheels/tires you're running - I know they're 18's, but what width/offset and tire sizes? And care to share what they cost?

Txs!

dynomite05

Thanks. The wheels are Forgestar F14s 18x8.5 front and 9.5 rear. The tires are Dunlop Winter Sport 3D and they are 235/40 front and 265/35 rear. I bought them with custom offsets of ET26 front and ET28 rear to avoid using spacers. They came out to $1200. Here is a link to a few pics (https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...thread-12.html)

bheng

i had this problem about a year and half ago. it was fixed at the dealership. SA said it woulda cost 8k in work. new tranny, and radiator, hoses all that good stuff. then i joined the forum to learn that its pretty common for 03 and 04.

i always wondered why the radiator had to be replaced. haha then i learned why here too. TY mbworld

moostang

Im off to pick up the car. I'll post whatever was changed and diagnosed. I have a
great respect for the c300. 2 weeks of driving it has proven very comfy and easy to
jump in and drive. My wife loves it ... I told her to wait till I can buy a c63. That will
be my baby hauler..( someday )

moostang

Parts changed / fixed ..

Transmission control unit
Radiator
Anti freeze
transmission flush/ oil etc.
Torque converter
oil filter.

New feeling transmission


Patrick

dynomite05

Good to hear that everything is fixed. How's it driving?