Transmission Issue After Rebuild
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8
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C280
Transmission Issue After Rebuild
The car is a 1999 E430, 160K Miles. I recently rebuilt the transmission:
Sprags
One bad race/bearing
New clutches
Conductor Plate
Replaced a couple of worn valves in the valve body
Did vacuum testing with SONNAX tool confirming all shift paths good
Tested solenoids
New wire harness plug
Plate under the fluid pump to mitigate some minor scratches.
Triple checked fluid level (I have the correct dip stick)
Cleared the codes with STAR.
During the road test, the car initially shifted perfectly and smoothly in city traffic and speeds up to 60 MPH. After about 3 miles, I was claiming victory!! I then began my trip back home. I slowed to a stop to turn around and without warning, the transmission seemed to now have no pressure and would not shift past second gear. No CEL just suddenly went from perfect to limp home. The STAR is clear of codes and fluid level is perfect. I've driven it multiple drives checking for codes each time. No codes and it's still stuck in second gear. Reverse is good and smooth. Park to any forward gear is also smooth.
Additionally, after driving it (car in park and idling) I can hear the transmission performing about a 3-second cycling of fluid pumping on-and-off. If the car is turned off then restarted, before shifting into any gear there are NO strange sounds. This cycling effect happens ONLY after shifting from park into reverse or drive then back to park.
From an engine perspective, the car runs great. The interior and exterior are also in very good condition. So I hate the thought of sending it to the junkyard.
I need some thoughts from the crowd guys. Your help, as always, is much appreciated.
Sprags
One bad race/bearing
New clutches
Conductor Plate
Replaced a couple of worn valves in the valve body
Did vacuum testing with SONNAX tool confirming all shift paths good
Tested solenoids
New wire harness plug
Plate under the fluid pump to mitigate some minor scratches.
Triple checked fluid level (I have the correct dip stick)
Cleared the codes with STAR.
During the road test, the car initially shifted perfectly and smoothly in city traffic and speeds up to 60 MPH. After about 3 miles, I was claiming victory!! I then began my trip back home. I slowed to a stop to turn around and without warning, the transmission seemed to now have no pressure and would not shift past second gear. No CEL just suddenly went from perfect to limp home. The STAR is clear of codes and fluid level is perfect. I've driven it multiple drives checking for codes each time. No codes and it's still stuck in second gear. Reverse is good and smooth. Park to any forward gear is also smooth.
Additionally, after driving it (car in park and idling) I can hear the transmission performing about a 3-second cycling of fluid pumping on-and-off. If the car is turned off then restarted, before shifting into any gear there are NO strange sounds. This cycling effect happens ONLY after shifting from park into reverse or drive then back to park.
From an engine perspective, the car runs great. The interior and exterior are also in very good condition. So I hate the thought of sending it to the junkyard.
I need some thoughts from the crowd guys. Your help, as always, is much appreciated.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Double and triple check the fluid level.
Where there is a limp, it has to be a code and low fluid is the only explanation for no code.
What scanner do you use.?
Where there is a limp, it has to be a code and low fluid is the only explanation for no code.
What scanner do you use.?
Last edited by kajtek1; Sep 7, 2019 at 08:50 PM.
