over my head
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mercedes benz c240 sedan
over my head
**** **** ****! ok I have a 03 mercedes c240 sedan. I am a woman and do not know anything. I have a tranmission leak! I know it is transmissiom leak because I know the difference between oil and tranmission fluid. my problem is the nearest person/dealer who can work on my car is 5 hours away. There is about 5 quarts of transmission fluid on the garage floor. I need to fill it before I can drive it. Can someone tell me how to get the cover off to check the level so I can fill it up and get it to the dealer. towing is not an option the quote for that was over 2000 dollars. any suggestions
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
**** **** ****! ok I have a 03 mercedes c240 sedan. I am a woman and do not know anything. I have a tranmission leak! I know it is transmissiom leak because I know the difference between oil and tranmission fluid. my problem is the nearest person/dealer who can work on my car is 5 hours away. There is about 5 quarts of transmission fluid on the garage floor. I need to fill it before I can drive it. Can someone tell me how to get the cover off to check the level so I can fill it up and get it to the dealer. towing is not an option the quote for that was over 2000 dollars. any suggestions
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mercedes benz c240 sedan
I do not drive it very often I drive my other cars so the 5 quarts is over 3 weeks of sitting. I have a warranty that covers all labor and parts and have beenm informed that it will come to 6000 dollars worth of work. any new suggestions. thank you so much
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1998 S500
First off how long does it take to lose 5 quarts of oil. Second If I was you I would get about 3 or 4 cans of degreaser from a auto part store. Clean your floor using cat litter first to suck up the oil. Get under your car somehow soak the whole transmission down with cleaner. Hose it off with water. Dry it, then put some oil back into it, then put something under your transmission like a big peice of cardboard ,and try to see where the leak is coming from. Once you have found it think of a way to rig it with something to slow the leak, Or maybee it could be a easy fix? Let us know what happens next! good luck =] Oh yeah if you have a warranty that covers all parts and labor why are they trying to charge you 6 grand. BS!
Last edited by OdinsThrone; Jun 12, 2008 at 02:17 AM.
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mercedes benz c240 sedan
ok so the garage has a special coat on the floor so the mess was easy to clean.. the transmission is leaks from electrical adapter plug and front pump bolts. I think that the transmission will have to be removed so that the front pump can be resealed. but I still have no idea how to get the cover off so that I can check the level. I am kind of a chicken and do not want to break anything. a smart chicken. I just want to get it to a pro who can just know what they are doing
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mercedes benz c240 sedan
they will cover all the labor and parts I just need to get it to the dealer. I can not get it there. this is the problem, not that they are refusing to pay. they have been nice to me.
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If you have not run over something and damaged the pan then the leak is likely an easy repair by someone competent. I also doubt it is five quarts worth of fluid. That amount would make a puddle about 8 feet in diameter.
Your leak is likely the pilot bushing. In our shop we charge an hour labor and that includes cleaning off the residue. The parts are about $30.
Your leak is likely the pilot bushing. In our shop we charge an hour labor and that includes cleaning off the residue. The parts are about $30.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Los Angeles, CA
07' E350, 71' DATSUN 510
If you take the big black airbox cover off of the top of engine, the transmission fill/dipstick tube is to right side of the air inlet for the engine(right as in to your right while your in the drivers seat). It sits lower than the engine oil tube and has a small black or red rectangular tab, on top of the cover, that needs to be broken off and the inside portion needs to be pushed out. The cover for the tube can then be removed and transmission fluid poured into that tube. I highly doubt that you have 5 quarts spilled out, seeing as the electrical connector sits higher than the pan. I would say that the maximum that has spilled out over time might be one to maybe two quarts. I would say start with one quart and if the transmission engages and drives fine you should be alright take an extra quart or 2 and a funnel with you on your 5 hour drive. Good luck.
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mercedes benz c240 sedan
thank you I will ask the dealer. I am 100 percent sure it is at least 5 quarts. the puddle is from underneath the tank to the end of the car in length and the width of the car and I have pushed the car out in nuetral twice and had the cleaners come and clean it. but thank you so much for your advice. It is going to be towed on monday, can not deal with all this. my first problem I have had with any of my cars, that is why I kkep buying mercedes. I do not have the time for quality of this sort. this car has less than 30,000 miles, this should not be happening period.
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Los Angeles, CA
07' E350, 71' DATSUN 510
The reason I doubt that it's 5 quarts is that when you drop the transmission oil pan on that car it only requires 3 1/2 to 4 quarts to fill it back up to capacity. Yes the transmission holds up to about 7 quarts, but a lot of that is stored in the torque convertor, clutch packs, oil cooler etc...
This leak is a common problem with the transmission on your car. I doesn't make your car a bad car, just a car that recieved a poorly manufactured connector. Mercedes has since come out with a modified connector that seems to be doing the job.
This leak is a common problem with the transmission on your car. I doesn't make your car a bad car, just a car that recieved a poorly manufactured connector. Mercedes has since come out with a modified connector that seems to be doing the job.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: california high desert
2003 S500, 03 C240, 03 E320, 03 tahoe
there has to be a way
if the dealer is allready aware of the problem then you should not drive the car at all.it is quite likely to void the warranty!.if the leak gets worse while you are driving it,or if the tranny suffers any consequential damage from a low fluid condition while you drive the car, you will be paying for the tranny out of your pocket.rent a u-haul truck and a car trailer and transport it to the dealer.i know money is tight but even a tiltbed towing service would probably cost less than $500.it dosent sound to me like the tranny has suffered any damage "yet".it simply has a bad leak.be really cautious with how you try to save money on this issue.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Chicago, IL
2003 E500 Sport, 1999 ML430 & Regal 402 Commodore
Why don't you go to a rental place & rent a truck & trailer? If a tow is $2000, I'd say a _Haul would be $200 for both truck & trailer.
Good Luck with the Tranny.
Good Luck with the Tranny.
