deuce zer0

i am having transmission problems and after the dealership saw/assest and repaired what they thought was the problem, I am still not cured. They told me that they where wrong and it would take a whole new tranny at $7800. They still to this day have failed to refund $700 of my $2400 they got from me for useless repair. Anyway, i took it to a local shop and they told me that they couldnt tell that there was a problem but it was gonna need a whole new transmission at $6200. This has been a horrible experience to say the least. I received a call yesterday from the local shop telling me they had a 97 come in the day after i picked mine up with same symptomes. When they plugged there computers up to it he sayed they found that the computer wires where funneling transmission fluid into the computer and causeing it to not shift threw its gears and they reason they didnt find it on mine was because there wasnt a computer in the shop that could get a readout on my transmission. This repair is gonna be $1400. I am very confused and so unsure that this is the problem and that i might be wasting more of my money. Has anyone else had this before or ever heard of something like this happening?

michakaveli

what were your symptoms?

MARK CUMMINS

On The Elect Trans They have a couple of Problems
A Connector at the pass side of trans that WILL leak and cause problems.
Several Updated Parts that Include Valve Bodies and Control Units

You Stated That :When they plugged there computers up to it he sayed they found that the computer wires where funneling transmission fluid into the computer and causeing it to not shift threw its gears :
The Person that told you This is WRONG!!
There is NO way the trans can leak fluid into the Computer or Control unit!

But if he stated that the connection at the valve body was leaking and is the problem...them I would agree

I would go down to this (SHOP) and ask to SEE the LEAKING Trans fluid in the Computer/control unit!

Sounds like you need a Shop that knows LATE MB trans to Trouble shoot this....

Also is there any Metal in the Trans pan or in the filter?

deuce zer0

michakaveli,
my transmission doesnt always shift threw the gears up or down. it will stay in first or second then maybe all the sudden go threw all 5 and not downshift at a stop sign or light. So starting off is kinda akward in 5th gear.

Mark,
I am no longer leaking transmission fluid. That is what the dealer fixed when i took it in for repairs the first time. The repairs they did didnt fix the not shifting problem. I have had my pan dropped about 5 times in the last two months so i dont think i have any metal in there. Nobody has ever seen my car and sayed that the funneling of the fluid to the computer is what my problem is, actually nobody could figure it out. Thats why everyone just evenutally kept telling me that i need another new transmission. It was not till after i picked up my car that another e came in same year (97) that they say is having the same problems as me and that is what there problem is. So they think that will be mine also. I dont actually know or can understand how fluid can travel threw wires but that is what was told to me from what i understood. It was threw someone else who actually took the message for me. And believe me! if i knew of someone else to take my car to i would be there in a hurry.

hubert

I had the sane problem on my 1997 C280, tranny fluid was getting in to the computer some how(stealership fixed it and it was good after the repair).
HUBERT

deuce zer0

how much did they charge?

rp718

sounds like an electrical problem, not a mechanical one.

mb-mopar nut

I am having a similar problem on a 97 e420. I had the tranny fluid changed. It was shifting great for about 10k then it started getting sloppy. Went to the Merc dealer and tehy said a valve body and computer had gone bad, $2400. I am buying the Merc CD manual to do some reading before I waste my money. Worst comes to worst, can get one from the wreckers for cheaper than the repair.

C230Ken

Same problem here,, 97 e320, told by mb dealer that trans fluid is wicking thru wires to the ecu (but I guess he meant the tcu). He estimates the repair at $2800. ($1500 for 2 control units and $1300 labor). My car does NOT have any trans or shifting problems right now and never did - they found this during a oil service.

Since it is still working is there any way to fix it or at least keep it as it is??? Can just the seals or wiring harness be changed?? or, do both control units need to be changed as the dealer wants to do?

I'm going to go to a couple of indy shops today for their opinions....

-Ken

T100T

What models suffer from these transmission issues and how do I check for the problem. My car is a 99 E430.

Thanks,

Peter

mb-mopar nut

SOunds like all W210 are susceptible to tranny and engine problems due to the extended service intervals. 10k is way too long for any synthetic and the claim that the transmissions are sealed for life just means the life of the tranny. If you do alot of city driving, short trips, change your fluids.

galleryvw

i too had the same issue. it was explained to me that the fluid is under pressure and is able to escape under the layer of insulation on the wires that connect the transmission computer to the actual transmission. i was having error codes sent to the computer. the repair was 400 or 500 dollars, and i guess it's fixed. i wasn't aware of these codes on a day to day basis then, and i'm not now either. apparently this is a common issue with '97's, as this thread proves. if left unattended the fluid can wipe out the computer. that may be what you need to replace. i'm sure the mechanics of your transmission can be salvaged.

deuce zer0

Actually it couldn't. I just got my car back from the shop Sunday for a new transmission. Neither the dealership nor my regular shop could get any readings from my transmission. I guess it was decided that I just needed another one so that’s what happened. It’s been a big hassle but I’m glad to have it back and running properly.

deuce zer0

They make it SO!!!! very difficult to do it yourself.

deuce zer0

From what i understand its real easy to fix, especially if there is no damage caused. My regular shop that was telling me about it says they just use bigger seals( probably more to it but....) they charge $1550 for that job. That was to replace things also so just seals might be a lot cheaper.