1999 e320 transmission problems
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11
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From: napa ca
e320
1999 e320 transmission problems
hi I'm new to the site and i was wondering if i could get some input on what the hell my be wrong with my car lol about a week ago i was driving and it began to downshift hard so i got the transmission serviced and it continued to shift pretty rough then a couple days later i was driving it and it wouldnt shift out of second, i was going 60 on the highway and the car only shifted once and i was completely redlined. now its sitting in my driveway and the car wont rev above 2000 rpm's in park or neutral and when i attempt to drive it, it goes about 10 mph maximum and when i gas it it bogs out on me, i scanned it with my generic obdII but i just get a generic p0700 transmission code. i was told the transmission control module could be getting tranny fluid inside from wicking up the wires, but i swapped it out with my girlfriends e430 tcm and it still didnt help, could it be the valve body? someone throw me a bone please, oh and to put the icing on the cake i fried my plugs driving it home going 60 mph at 6000 rpms haha i need HELP!!!!!!!!!!! BAD!!!!!!!
Last edited by abergman0403; Sep 11, 2009 at 04:18 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
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From: Bay Area, CA
09' E320
Your trans is in Limp Home Mode; 1st, 2nd and R only to protect itself from abuse.......
It needs to be scanned for other MB specific codes (PO 700 is an OBDII generic coce) and have the adaptation values read by a good MB tech.
You can not clear trans codes (nor see them for that matter) with a OBDII scanner.
It needs to be scanned for other MB specific codes (PO 700 is an OBDII generic coce) and have the adaptation values read by a good MB tech.
You can not clear trans codes (nor see them for that matter) with a OBDII scanner.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11
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From: napa ca
e320
i read about mercedes being stuck in limp mode i was going to purchase a carsoft 7.4 scanner to read the transmission codes but i didnt know if that was the right direction to go cause i dont want to just dump money into my transmission for no reason so a carsoft scanner seemed like the best route do you have any options you think i should look into?
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
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From: Bay Area, CA
09' E320
Can't comment on the scanner; most scanners capable of reading MB's propriatery codes are considerably more expensive than taking it the dealer for diagnosis would be......the tech also knows what the codes and adaptation values (recent tran internal adjustments) mean when taken as a whole.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
What service was performed?
and did they use the correct 722.6 fluid?
Have you spilled liquid into the shift module console?
Or left the sun roof open in the rain?
Check for fluid leak around the o ring electrical connection pass side of the transmission. Replace diy is on benzworld.org w210 diy section.
Whom serviced the trans?
I have the 17mm boot removal tool for when you replace the fried plugs.
Lastly when something is wrong and you know it, why push the engine to maximum and abuse it even more?
I never understand why people do that
the car has another rev limiter other than top speed and it is set so you can't over rev the engine in park or neutral, I always wonder why Mercedes needed it. However when I read post of members with something seriously wrong pushing the car to 60 in limp mode,I need wonder no more.
Have you spilled liquid into the shift module console?
Or left the sun roof open in the rain?
Check for fluid leak around the o ring electrical connection pass side of the transmission. Replace diy is on benzworld.org w210 diy section.
Whom serviced the trans?
I have the 17mm boot removal tool for when you replace the fried plugs.
Lastly when something is wrong and you know it, why push the engine to maximum and abuse it even more?
I never understand why people do that
the car has another rev limiter other than top speed and it is set so you can't over rev the engine in park or neutral, I always wonder why Mercedes needed it. However when I read post of members with something seriously wrong pushing the car to 60 in limp mode,I need wonder no more.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11
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From: napa ca
e320
i had jiffy lube service the transmission i brought them the fluid and they used there 10,000 dollar machine to suck out the old fluid and replace it with fresh 722.6 fluid, but last winter i did leave the sunroof partially opened and it got wet inside, but i had driven the car for a year since that inccident occured? so i dont know if that could be the cause possibly though and i pushed the car cause i was trying to reset the tcm manually becuase i heard that might fix my problem 
lol obviously it didnt work and i ended up with 12 fried spark plugs i replaced the plugs and the car still runs rough i think i just need a mercedes specific scanner do you know what scanner works best and isnt to expensive? you seem like you know alot about mercedes and i highly appreciate all the help 
lol obviously it didnt work and i ended up with 12 fried spark plugs i replaced the plugs and the car still runs rough i think i just need a mercedes specific scanner do you know what scanner works best and isnt to expensive? you seem like you know alot about mercedes and i highly appreciate all the help
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Joined: Apr 2012
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From: New Orleans , LA.
ML 320 HEAVY METAL EDITION
Plutoe is correct. I had the same issue...the wet contact possibly shorted out mine, but after removing the battery(which died) to recharge,.. the codes cleared out.. car ran fine. (Luck in my case)
A code reader will only tell you the code #. Only a Star coder can read & remove the code. I would suggest a star coder to read the problem exactly,then go from there. If you change the fluid, replace the conductor plate as well since its inside the trans pan. its cheaper than replacing a trans later on. Good Luck.
Some of these members here really give good advice. I know I'm thankful.
A code reader will only tell you the code #. Only a Star coder can read & remove the code. I would suggest a star coder to read the problem exactly,then go from there. If you change the fluid, replace the conductor plate as well since its inside the trans pan. its cheaper than replacing a trans later on. Good Luck.
Some of these members here really give good advice. I know I'm thankful.
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2013
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Mercedes E320
1999 E-320 Transmission Leak
Hello, I am Mike. I am new to the group. This is my first post.
My wife spilled coke in my transmission, and had to go get it serviced. Had the car for almost 12 years, never had the transmission fluid cleaned. Cost me about 850 bucks.
Now 6 months later, my mechanic is telling me that I have a transmission plug leak. They are estimating it will cost 4 to 5 hundred. I can drive the car, but shifting is delayed. I am taking it to the shop as soon as I can. Right now, the car is just sitting. They tell me this is a common occurrence with E-320s.
My wife spilled coke in my transmission, and had to go get it serviced. Had the car for almost 12 years, never had the transmission fluid cleaned. Cost me about 850 bucks.
Now 6 months later, my mechanic is telling me that I have a transmission plug leak. They are estimating it will cost 4 to 5 hundred. I can drive the car, but shifting is delayed. I am taking it to the shop as soon as I can. Right now, the car is just sitting. They tell me this is a common occurrence with E-320s.
Newbie
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Mercedes E320
Thanks Plutoe. The Mechanic took $350 off the price.
Thanks for your reply Plutoe. I confronted the mechanic with the information you posted, and he clarified what he wanted to do for me.
He admitted it was an easy fix. He said he wanted to charge 95 bucks for the hour it would take him to replace it. He said the part would cost him 35, and the other amount for a transmission flush would cost 350. He says that he thinks oil has gotten into my transmission that is why he recommends a transmission flush, but admits it is not necessary just to change the plug.
The car drives just fine with transmission fluid, but leaks transmission fluid pretty bad. He ran the codes on the car. Paid him $65 for him to tell me the computer in the transmission is fine.
I got to find out where this plastic plug is on my vehicle. Maybe I can replace it myself. I used to be a mechanic in the Marines over 2.5 decades ago.
Is there a manual I can buy that will assist me in this endeavor?
He admitted it was an easy fix. He said he wanted to charge 95 bucks for the hour it would take him to replace it. He said the part would cost him 35, and the other amount for a transmission flush would cost 350. He says that he thinks oil has gotten into my transmission that is why he recommends a transmission flush, but admits it is not necessary just to change the plug.
The car drives just fine with transmission fluid, but leaks transmission fluid pretty bad. He ran the codes on the car. Paid him $65 for him to tell me the computer in the transmission is fine.
I got to find out where this plastic plug is on my vehicle. Maybe I can replace it myself. I used to be a mechanic in the Marines over 2.5 decades ago.
Is there a manual I can buy that will assist me in this endeavor?
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5
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Mercedes E320
No. I really don't want to crawl underneath the car, and I really don't want to mess a good thing up. The transmission works fine with transmission fluid. If i messed it up, I would never hear the end of it from my wife. Not to mention, I would be depressed. So, I am going to take your advice again, and remind the mechanic of the money I already spent there, (I could be driving a brand new mercedes for all the money I shovel his way) and get the best deal possible.
Thanks again Plutoe for your sage advice.
Thanks again Plutoe for your sage advice.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5
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Mercedes E320
END RESULTS ON FIXING TRANSMISSION PLUG
My mechanic ended up just charging me $146.00. $90 for one hour labor, 22 bucks for the transmission plug, 18 for two quarts of transmission fluid and applicable taxes. Way better than the $500 I was prepared to spend.
Now another issue came up on the car, the taillight keeps burning out. I replaced the whole taillight assembly once before about a year ago for $150. Apparently, this happens a lot to 1999 E-320s. Does anyone else have the same problem?
Now another issue came up on the car, the taillight keeps burning out. I replaced the whole taillight assembly once before about a year ago for $150. Apparently, this happens a lot to 1999 E-320s. Does anyone else have the same problem?
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
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nissan altima
Common Problem to anyone??
My mechanic ended up just charging me $146.00. $90 for one hour labor, 22 bucks for the transmission plug, 18 for two quarts of transmission fluid and applicable taxes. Way better than the $500 I was prepared to spend.
Now another issue came up on the car, the taillight keeps burning out. I replaced the whole taillight assembly once before about a year ago for $150. Apparently, this happens a lot to 1999 E-320s. Does anyone else have the same problem?
Now another issue came up on the car, the taillight keeps burning out. I replaced the whole taillight assembly once before about a year ago for $150. Apparently, this happens a lot to 1999 E-320s. Does anyone else have the same problem?
-Sean
