Transmission problem
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 55
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From: Fort Lauderdale , Florida
2003 e320
Transmission problem
The automatic transmission is starting to slip in my 197 e420 with 152,000 miles. It seems like it is slipping in 2nd or 3rd gear. Does this mean I will need to have the transmission rebuilt or is there a way to just fix the gear that is slipping?
I love this car but this year alone I have spent almost $8,000 in repairs and was not able to do any of the mods I wanted too. I am almost ready to get rid of it but have too much invested and when it is running right it is so much fun to drive.
Can anyone give me suggestions on repairing the transmission? I think rebuilding it will be somewhere between 2500-3,000 that I cannot afford right now.
I love this car but this year alone I have spent almost $8,000 in repairs and was not able to do any of the mods I wanted too. I am almost ready to get rid of it but have too much invested and when it is running right it is so much fun to drive.
Can anyone give me suggestions on repairing the transmission? I think rebuilding it will be somewhere between 2500-3,000 that I cannot afford right now.
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Ok do this:
get your transmission fluid and filter changed. use a GOOD synthetic fluid like Amsoil ATF. make sure everything gets drained and refilled, including the torque converter. have the mchanic check for leaks in the lines. This should help somewhat.
Drive for about a week on the new fluid, the car may get stuck in 1st gear initally after the ATF change. thats nothing abnormal. Drive it slow, and if it wont shift (starting to rev like a MF) put in into neutral and then back into Drive. that will force a shift. After afew days it should be ok and back to normal.
The get a bottle of this stuff, Lucas Automatic Transmission fix (www.lucasoil.com) follow the instructions. After about 2 weeks your transmission should be good as new.
my dads 1993 190E did 70,000km on amsoil and Lucas ATFix and it was damaged because it was running almost dry for 3 days.
If this does not fix it, dump the car and get yourself a Lexus....
get your transmission fluid and filter changed. use a GOOD synthetic fluid like Amsoil ATF. make sure everything gets drained and refilled, including the torque converter. have the mchanic check for leaks in the lines. This should help somewhat.
Drive for about a week on the new fluid, the car may get stuck in 1st gear initally after the ATF change. thats nothing abnormal. Drive it slow, and if it wont shift (starting to rev like a MF) put in into neutral and then back into Drive. that will force a shift. After afew days it should be ok and back to normal.
The get a bottle of this stuff, Lucas Automatic Transmission fix (www.lucasoil.com) follow the instructions. After about 2 weeks your transmission should be good as new.
my dads 1993 190E did 70,000km on amsoil and Lucas ATFix and it was damaged because it was running almost dry for 3 days.
If this does not fix it, dump the car and get yourself a Lexus....
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
From: Ventura, CA
AMG 55, 335i, Mini Cooper S
My E55 tranny went out at 70k and cost me about $4500 for rebuilt tranny that included a new tq converter, brain, and tranny. I had a bearing xplode and caused tons of problems. I thinking your 3k price guess is about right. If you do have to get a new tranny, and I hope you don't. Make sure you get the proper brain, because many times the software changes.
My new tranny shifts better, smoother and faster than the OEM, so at least I have that going for me.
Mario
My new tranny shifts better, smoother and faster than the OEM, so at least I have that going for me.
Mario
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Carol Stream, IL
1998 E320
Do not use any other trans fluid other than the Mercedes synthetic trans fluid! Your transmission is the 722.6 which requires the Mercedes synthetic fluid and a special tool to check the fluid level. I suggest you have it changed at a Mercedes dealer.
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
hey, I remembered you post when I was down at the mechanic today. he said its the torque converter in the tranny.
mind you it could be the fluid as well, so try that 1st.
Mercedes screwed up in the late 1990s, its a problem with the v8s (6s and diesels not so much), they send tons of power down through the transmission and the torque converter cannot handel it very well. if you drive it a bit too hard, you have a problem.
I dont recall him saying how it can be fixed though. You will probably need a new torque converter in your transmission, the rest of it should be ok though he said.
maybe you can look around the web for possible fixes? maybe a stronger torque converter transplant of some kind?
A used car salesman trick is putting a bottle of rubutussin grape into the tranny, it will smooth out the shifts somewhat; but DON'T (I reapeat DON'T) do this unless you are selling the car and want it to seem ok.
mind you it could be the fluid as well, so try that 1st.
Mercedes screwed up in the late 1990s, its a problem with the v8s (6s and diesels not so much), they send tons of power down through the transmission and the torque converter cannot handel it very well. if you drive it a bit too hard, you have a problem.
I dont recall him saying how it can be fixed though. You will probably need a new torque converter in your transmission, the rest of it should be ok though he said.
maybe you can look around the web for possible fixes? maybe a stronger torque converter transplant of some kind?
A used car salesman trick is putting a bottle of rubutussin grape into the tranny, it will smooth out the shifts somewhat; but DON'T (I reapeat DON'T) do this unless you are selling the car and want it to seem ok.
Last edited by Messerchmidt; Jan 4, 2005 at 12:16 AM.
