CLK-Class (W209) 2003 on: CLK 270 CDI, CLK 200K, CLK 200 CGI, CLK 240, CLK 320, CLK 350, CLK 500, CLK 550 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Torque Converter replaced

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Old Jul 24, 2004 | 10:20 AM
  #1  
matt5555's Avatar
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From: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Torque Converter replaced

We had our torque convertor replaced on our '04 Cab 2 months ago. Car only had ~5,000 miles. Car would buck (badly)etc when accelerating and changing gears.

Anyone else have similar problems?

Also have had numerous problems with the top not wanting to come back up.. they replaced sensors but sometimes still does not work.

And the gear shift indicator light (on the gearshift) went out too (Was replaced..)
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Old Jul 24, 2004 | 10:18 PM
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From: San Antonio, Texas
2003 SL500
A couple of months ago I had the same symptoms that got worse and worse until it was almost undriveable. I have a 2004 CLK 320 with about 11000 miles on it. The dealer replaced the torque convertor, but that was not it. They had to replace the transmission control module which there were none in existence in the USA or Germany for several weeks because supposedly they redesigned it and I then after having the car at the dealer for 6 weeks got it back working fine. At least the dealer paid the $1500 rental car bill and also gave me a check for my full car payment for the month.
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Old Jul 24, 2004 | 10:41 PM
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From: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Mine appears to be having a similar problem... I am use to driving a stick so every time I get to a light I throw the car in neutral and then back in drive when the light turns green... when I throw the car in drive I feel the transmission go through two stages to engage - the first feels half engaged and then a second later, fully engaged. The car will also shift into gear very forcefully sometimes. Gotta take it in and have them take a look at it.
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Old Jul 24, 2004 | 11:32 PM
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CLK Hunting, is your's a 320 too?
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Old Jul 26, 2004 | 12:19 PM
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From: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Originally Posted by RJC
CLK Hunting, is your's a 320 too?
It's a 500.
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Old Jul 26, 2004 | 09:45 PM
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Your problem sounds a bit different than the others so I'm hoping its just a 320 issue.

Last edited by RJC; Jul 26, 2004 at 09:51 PM.
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Old Aug 13, 2004 | 07:41 PM
  #7  
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2 CLKs
Same Problem as SPIRT

'04 CLK 320 with 4,000 miles on odometer started to make a grating noise lasting a few seconds while driving slowly. The intermittant problem progressed to full time and car was driven to dealer, who could easily reproduce the problem. Long story short, after 3 days the car was fixed: transmission module defect>>fried transmission and torque converter>>entire transmission replaced.
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Old Aug 25, 2004 | 06:09 PM
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04 CLK 320
Torque converter replaced also

Hi, everyone,
had the same problem and the dealer will replaced the torque converter and the whole transmission. I only had 7200 miles 04 CLK 320. This is crazy. The dealer said it should be done in 2 days.
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Old Aug 25, 2004 | 08:48 PM
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is it me, or is the new clks all f'ed up? ive never heard anyone having so much problems with a new car. especially a mercedes. u think you pay $50k+ and you run into all these problems. imagine a few years down the road. the pulling to the right issue, transmission, little things. its horrible.
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Old Nov 1, 2006 | 04:58 PM
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Make sure they replace the radiator

I experienced the same problem, but my car is a bit older, an 03 CLK500 with 26K miles. A bad torque converter and transmissions are the result of a faulty radiator. It winds up contaminating the transmission fluid, which leads to transmission and torque converter problems. If you don't have the radiator replaced, you could wind up in the same place. I believe that MB is aware of the problem, and once you have it repaired, you should be good to go, others here have had the same problem, do your research, it pays off.
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Old Nov 1, 2006 | 10:47 PM
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03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
Originally Posted by rwnevinger
A bad torque converter and transmissions are the result of a faulty radiator. It winds up contaminating the transmission fluid, which leads to transmission and torque converter problems.
mine was replaced too with the same diagnosis
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Old Nov 9, 2006 | 10:00 AM
  #12  
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C32 AMG, CL500, Jag StypeR, SLK200, Aygo, Audi TT
just adding my bit...

yeah my CLK240 2002 had the same issues - faulty AER rad leaked fluid into tranny and torque converter. Dealership replaced RAD with a BEHR make, new torque converter and new tranny. All great now. £5000 bill - but all under warrenty thank god! The MB bulleting advises technicians to do a Glycol test and depending on the amount of fluid thats got in the tranny will help them decide what action to take - but as above the most important thing si to get the RAD changed as thats the cause of the issue!
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Old Nov 13, 2006 | 09:15 PM
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2016 GLE63s 2010 E63 Coupe...
My first Benz was a 02 c32 and at 14k transmission started jerking , took it in and was diagnosed as bad radiator . They said the coolant had ruined the tranny and that both the radiator and tranny would have to be replaced.
A year later I sold the c32 and bought my current Benz, a 03 clk500 . After putting 5k on it guess what, the transmission started jerking
Once again the SA informs me that I need a new radiator and tranny and that MB knows about the problem with the radiators and has yet to do the right thing and let people know before it happens to them
Imagine when these radiators start going bad in cars that are out of warranty
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Old Nov 13, 2006 | 09:25 PM
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2016 GLE63s 2010 E63 Coupe...
Oh yea I forgot, after fixing the tranny in my clk I installed an outboard transmission cooler that is mounted in front of the radiator. I made a set of brackets to mount it and painted it black to match everything behind the front grill. It completely bypasses the cooler built into the MB radiator and works great!!!
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