C230Ken

Hi, just got some bad news from my mb dealer:

Had 'my 97 E320 w/100k miles in for routine service, not having any problems what-so-ever. Dealer says that on my trans the wires from the transmission going to the ecu are 'wicking' trans fluid to the ecu and are making it wet with fluid. Dealer wants $2800. to repair ($1500. for 2 ecu's and $1300 to put them in).

Does this sound right?? Has anyone else had this problem?? Is there an easier fix to this or am I stuck with his repair costs. My trans shows no problems at all right now but I don't know when or how drastic the failure (when it happens) will be.

Any input would be greatly appreciated....

Ken

Jer

$1300 in install control units?! WTF!

Get a second (or third) opinion.

mleskovar

If everything is fine with the car why replace the ECUs? Clean the ECUs, sockets, wiring, and fix the source of the fluid leak.

C230Ken

I asked if they could do that and they said, "...no we need to replace them both".

Do you have first hand knowledge that this can be repaired this way?? If I understood correctly, isn't one of the ecu's inside the trans and one was above it??

-Ken

C32AMG/02

The harness connector sleeve is the cause; it leaks into the TCM harness and contaminates the controller. This was a problem for 96 and 97 722.6 transmissions. It was updated in 1998. The park interlock also leaks. Call MBUSA try to get it covered

f4i 954

The transmission fluid should only be going into the etc module, find out what other ecu are they talking about?
It`s not only on 96 & 97 transmissions.

C230Ken

Brought the car in to an independent MB repair shop. They said that they had seen this a few times before and that there was an internal MB memo on how to repair it. They also said that it was not limited to 96 & 97's and they had seen problem on a '00.

My trans ecu was wet with fluid, they cleaned it off with circuit board cleaner. There were error codes in the computer that said to replace the trans ecu. They cleared these. They then 'filed down a tab' on the shifter plate and put double seals around the shifter plate plug - they said that this would keep the fluid from entering the wiring harness. The wiring does still have fluid in it, but there shouldn't be any new fluid from the trans to push it into the ecu.

I'm using it now, shifts good (but it always did). I need to bring it back in a few weeks to check for error codes and to see if the fluid has stopped going to the ecu.

Keeping my fingers crossed..........

f4i 954

Not shure what can be done to keep the trany fluid from going up the harness, but the seals they replaced are to prevent external leaks only.

Kestas

I'm glad you took it to an independant. A lot of mechanics are simply part replacers when all the parts need is a little cleaning, whether it be crud or corrosion, as we DIYers often do.