Here's an odd one. Got my car back from the shop last week. They found nothing wrong with my transmission. Still need to get a scanner. However, until today it was driving just fine.

Super heavy rain this afternoon. Not quite flooding, but puddles in road 2 to 4 inches deep I presume. I am driving locally, never got over 25 mph if that high. It's all hills and local streets between my son's school and home. Distance is less than 2 miles but mostly single lane streets with bumper to bumper traffic in this weather.

When I was in bumper to bumper and doing the stop and go, my tach went to 2,000 before the car started moving. I didn't hear the wheel spinning. I had just left it in D and C setting like always. I tried turning off ESP because I thought I once read that's where the turn off switch might help, and I think it helped a little.

When I finally got in my garage the car would not shift from D to Reverse. It just went to neutral. But I then put it in Park, and then reverse and reverse worked just fine. This was repeated several times since I have a tight spot I back into.

Anyone have this experience? Heavy rain screwing up reverse?

Thank you,

Sixcarbs

 

seems like a classic sign of low fluid level, but if serviced it should be good? id check anyway

 

Just saw this when I moved car out. Never had this before.

 

this oil on garage floor doesn't look like it's been blue or red before...
it looks more like fresh engine oil.

The "PRND shifter" on the other hand has its connector all the way at the bottom.
It may have scooped puddling rain you reported.

Hook up your MB scanner to read the chassis fault.

ISM shares bus connection with :

• engine
• tranny
• brakes
• tank pump

Let see what evidence scanner reports.

 

Tried to find an open shop today where they could plug me in. No joy! Looks like I am down at least until next week.

I have been trying to get a scanner but it is not easy here in Serbia. One person has a used iCarsoft MB 2.0 (not 3.0) for sale about an hour away from me and they want 150 Euros. What is that worth used and is it sufficient?

Today got a little worse. Not much new oil on the floor. Drive to Reverse seems to work fine again. But I felt a hard shift on two occasions and when I was climbing a hill at 40 km/h it lost power to the wheels, like it slipped into neutral or something before coming back.

It also felt earlier like it was slipping or not getting full power to the wheels, but that could just be my paranoia.

I tried checking the oil using the instrument panel. It said add 1.5 liters to be at maximum oil. Another window said my oil level was 6.11 but did not say liters or quarts. I have read the car holds 8.5 quarts (8.0 liters).

Hopefully my shop can get me in this week and it can make it up the hill on my street to get there.

I knew something was wrong last week!

Was the Drive to Reverse issue related to the rain? If so that's scary.

Is it all related to this leaking oil? Or just a crazy coincidence?

What could it be, the seal between the engine and tranny? Is that called the rear main seal?

Would losing oil cause it to slip into neutral?

In the meantime back to my wife's B200. At least it has a 6-speed manual.

As always, thank you for your thoughts!

 

a used iCarsoft $50 Max. Anyway to get Internet purchase from China or Europe? Search "LAUNCH MB cREADER ELITE".

Based on your specifics: it's all about low ATF level. Not the PRND shifter - Your transmission is pumping air throughout.

The weird thing is the ATF color on the floor.... what kind of oil went in your gearbox ???

You're tranny is overdue for service - Make sure the leak is identified/repaired not just "refilled and Go".
Cooling lines are good candidates for leaks!


How about you have a look at coolant and engine oil for evidence of failed seal: mixer conditions?

 

I thought I did have a transmission service in November when they changed the transmission fluid, connector plug, and told me the transmission ECU needed to be replaced, to which I said yes.

Looking at the bill now. I think the relevant items are the following:
Steker Menjaca (Gearbox Plug) - $16
Diht.Aut.Menj. 5B.Set (translation??) - $20
Ulje za Menjac 5 Brz.(Gearbox Oil 5 speed) - 4 x $14 each = $56
Ploca Aut.Menjaca 140 (Automatic Transmission Plate) - $260 (This was what they called me about and said needed to be changed.)

The ordinary engine oil says:
Ujle Mobil 3000 4/1

If what is on the floor came from the transmission something is very amiss because it does not look like ATF. Or it could be an uncorrelated separate matter??

When I google Mercedes transmission service I get this:

What is included in a typical Mercedes-Benz transmission service?

• Transmission Fluid Flush: This involves removing the old fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid.
• Filter Replacement: The filter is cleaned or replaced to remove debris and contaminants.
• Hose and Pan Inspection: Hoses and the transmission pan are inspected for leaks and damage.
• Multi-Point Inspection: Some service centers offer a multi-point inspection of other transmission components.

I can't wait to learn what this is!

Thank you

 

me too! I think you understand what needs to happen.

What's clear is tranny just got serviced and is free wheeling not long after. Decide if this shop is up to the task.

A quick inspection will show where oil leak is coming from.

 

I would check the trans fluid level. When it's low the pump will suck in air, and your trans feels like it goes into neutral, as you described. When going up hill it may be more likely to do this, but it depends on where your oil pickup is located. Normally, as the oil level drops, you'll notice it pop out of gear once in a while, but the lower the level gets the more often it happens and the longer it takes to recover. Then at some point it would be undrivable. So my suspicion is they didn't add enough fluid when serviced. Or, if the filter falls off it'll net the same problem because the filter reaches down into the fluid. When it falls off it's the same as lowering the fluid level. Again, highly suspicious if recently serviced.

My '99 benz had a tranny dipstick tube, but no dipstick It simply had a plastic cap on the tube. I bought a dipstick and problem solved. Fyi if you're in the same boat.
If you can't check the level, I'd simply add a half quart to see what happens.

The oil on the floor is engine oil, so no relation. Yes there is a rear main seal on the eng, but when it leaks it drops on the ground, it does not go into the trans. So your oil on the ground is a different issue altogether. Could also be from an oil change, since mechs often spill oil and may not bother to clean it. You just have to keep out for leaks and watch your oil level.

 

@CaliBenzDriver

Well, the shop finally had time for it today. Was supposed to be yesterday but they said their diagnostic tool was down until today. So I assumed they used it.

Called me this afternoon, said it was ready. What is the bill? It's free, they did not charge me anything.

I went over there. The service writer told me they changed an O-ring on the oil line to the transmission, mad the line nice, and topped up the fluid. I asked if it was engine oil or transmission fluid. He said transmission fluid. I asked if that light brown stuff on my garage floor was transmission fluid and he said yes. Ok. He said that O-ring was causing the leak on my floor, and the low fluid level that caused it to slip into neutral.

So the ATF fluid flows through the radiator in its own channel??

Sorry, but that's all I got. At least I can put the money they did not charge me towards my own scanner now. It's just such a PITA to order anything from the EU here.

Now I am wondering if they mean the one numbered 290, 15, 105, or something else.

 

Yes, you've got it. These are the tranny "cooler line" they run through a heat exchanger to keep ATF near a set temperature.

The oil leak at O-Ring was shop reusing old seals during service and not replacing them.

Everyone of these undersized rubber seal must be replaced when disturbed by service else it's a guaranteed leak of coolant, oil or ATF.

Hopefully you dont need to use that shop again. ATF color is likely using "compatible" oil, not what gearboxes like to shift right. Pay attention to gear shifts. Decide if your tranny works best with genuine oil.

 

OMG, so you are saying my tranny is filled with some oil that is not normal AT fluid.

so now I need to flush it again, but this time make sure they change all of the o-rings. How many are there?

I hope this cheap generic has not done any damage.

The place I go to is not evil and has a great reputation. I guess they are just used to their customer base wanting things done the cheapest way possible.

Remember when I suggested changing spark plugs and battery they just said mine are fine. I would be an easy mark for them if they were bad people.

 

They are not evil, they are careless.
Having you drive around a drained out tranny is a disservice.

As far as ATF oil color you want to match what you have with what tranny calls for.

The picture of what was on the floor did not look like red oil.
I am sure their "compatible oil is the best".... "they always use the same..." "it's all the same..."

When you complain of rough shifts they won't volunteer a free ATF replacement ($800) but a rebuild job ($8000).

All normal.

 

Wow, I started this thread nearly 2 months ago.

There was a lot of waiting since then, and some personal family issues, but I finally have an update(s).

I went back to my original shop, because they were close, and because they were accommodating. It was a Sunday and the transmission went back into limp mode. I could leave it outside of their shop near my house. They thought my problem was with the TCU and claimed they were getting a fault code for it. So after a week or so they changed the TCU with a used one. They told me to come pick up the car on a Saturday, drive it until Tuesday, and report back to them. Well I picked it up and did not make it around the block more than twice. It drove worse than when I dropped it off. So I immediately brought it back. Several days later they told me it is not the TCU, the whole transmission needs to be rebuilt, and they hand me a number of a transmission expert.

I called the number, he did not speak English. I sent him a text in Serbian and got no response. Finally I had my friend call him and asked if I could bring my car to him and leave it. He said to drop it off anytime. In the interim I googled his number and saw he was nearly an hour South of Belgrade. But there were tons of Google reviews about him. They called him the transmission doctor. They said if you have a Mercedes transmission problem he is the man to help you. They said he was honest and fairly priced. Ok, after arranging someone to bring me back, and dealing with my tight family schedule I drove the car down there.

The roads to his place were fantastic country roads. Little traffic, one lane each way, hills and gentle curves. About halfway there my car started acting up again, and I could not drive faster than 40 km/h. And I started to hear sounds coming from the transmission. Maybe because I head read about them, maybe because it was actually making them. When I finally arrived I pulled onto a large piece of property with a house to the right and a two story steel frame building on the left. Several Mercedes outside and in. A gentleman came out and immediately started the car, opened the hood, checked the transmission level, and plugged in laptop under the dash that he balanced on my soft top. He saw some things but between the bright sunlight and his limited English I could not tell what he saw.

I told him I read his reviews and he said that is his father. So it is a father/son operation. All they do are Mercedes automatics.

An older man comes out in overalls, it was his father. My car was still running, he has a few words with his son. The son dips the transmission snake down the tube again and pulls it out. The father takes one look at it and says there is coolant in there (Now a young girl has come out of the house to interpret) and it needs a rebuild and a new radiator. I knew my car was in the manufacturing window for the bum radiator but I had hoped by 160,000 KM it would have reared its head already.

I asked how much and how much time do you need?

1500 Euros, and 10 days.

I asked if they took credit cards? Nope, cash only. Ok.

I said ok and walked up the long driveway to wait for my friend. A great friend. He came from 2 hours further South just to drive me 1 hour North and then go home! I thought he was coming to town anyway, but he came just for me.

A week later I got a call from the girl with the father in the background. The car was done. I told them I could not get there until Saturday (today) and they were fine with that.

Nobody was free today so I checked the bus schedules and planned on taking a city bus, about 2 hours total. Busses were supposed to run every 45 minutes. My 8-year old son and I take a Taxi to the bus stop that is literally on the highway ramp and it turns out that next bus we need is in 2 1/2 hours. Family obligations force me to call the taxi back and take it all the way. Fixed price, 70 Euros.

We arrive. I speak to the girl. The father comes out. I said hello Doctor. He starts my car and tells me through the girl we need to take a test drive. First I wanted to see the old radiator. We walk down the hill in the back, he shows me mine, and right there on the side it says, "Valeo!" He then takes me to another pile of parts and pulls out a bunch of clutch discs and what looked like a shell and he proceeds to show me the damage. I have no idea what I am looking at. Then he shows me the conductor plate and said that got cooked too. This was the new one I had installed in November. Again, I am not clear what I am looking at but he is indicating it is all coolant damage.

Then we go back to the car for a test drive with the Doctor driving. He starts cruising up this beautiful country road noting each shift and how smooth it is. It really was. He then turns left to a smaller road and stops the car. He floors it and the car revs right to redline, shifts and continues climbing. He turned around, stopped and floored it again. It shifted perfectly!

While I am not thrilled having to spend this money now, it was one of the few potential problems I was worried about one day due to my car's build date, and now it is done and behind me.

That's all folks.

 

You really lucked out in the end to have the Doctor to rebuild your entire tranny due to VALEO mayo-mixer.

What color is the coolant in your new radiator?

 

While I did not see with my own eyes, we discussed and he showed me when I dropped it off, the red juice that would be going in, and I confirmed it in my broken Serbian with him while he was test driving.

So, red.

 

An anecdotal report here:

I drove to the in-laws place in the village yesterday. About 110 KM up and back. Country road, one lane each way most of the way. Speed limit was 80 km/h. Drove most of the time at 90 km/h with occasional blip up to 100 km/h.

My fuel consumption showed 8.0 liters/100KM (29.4 mpg). In the past I have NEVER seen better than 9.9 liters/100 KM (23.8 mpg). Was this a direct result of the transmission rebuild? Perhaps.