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C32 Transmission Problems

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Old Mar 8, 2005 | 10:39 AM
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2002 C32 AMG K
Angry C32 Transmission Problems

My 2002 C32AMG recently developed a chattering shifting problem when lightly applying the throttle. Turns out that coolant from the radiator had gotten into the tranmission fluid and ruined the torque converter. It has been ten days and I am still waiting for the dealer to get parts needed for repair. I did not buy the car at the dealer, so no loaner. Has anyone else had a similar problem?
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Old Mar 9, 2005 | 03:31 AM
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From: MORTON GROVE,IL
BLACK 2005 SLK55 AMG,02 SILVER C32(SOLD),02 ML320 SILVER(Sold),99 S320 BLUE, 03 E500 Sport Pewter
you dont have to purchase car from dealer to get a loaner car if your car is under warranty you should get a loaner no matter where you bought it from thats does not seem right at all to me look into it please i did not prchase my car at the dealer but i still get a loaner when i take it in
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Old Mar 9, 2005 | 10:26 AM
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From: Charlotte, NC
2002 C32 AMG K
Angry Beck Imports

When I took the car to Beck Imports in Charlotte, NC to try to see about an extended warranty, I was told they would not sell me one because they had not done all the work on the car! They have a McClaren SLR in the showroom with a sticker price of $450,000.00, but I was told they turned down an offer of $650,000.00. They refused to give me a loaner on a job that has now been nine days. VERY VERY ARROGANT!!!! Check your dealer very closely.
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Old Mar 9, 2005 | 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by C32Luvr
My 2002 C32AMG recently developed a chattering shifting problem when lightly applying the throttle. Turns out that coolant from the radiator had gotten into the tranmission fluid and ruined the torque converter. It has been ten days and I am still waiting for the dealer to get parts needed for repair. I did not buy the car at the dealer, so no loaner. Has anyone else had a similar problem?
Yes this was a fault with some transmissions in the C320 / C32 series. If the car is under warranty it should be in a Benz workshop getting a new transmission not just a bandaid.
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Old Mar 9, 2005 | 11:22 PM
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03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
Can you describe the problem and symptoms in a little more detail? I've noticed something that sounds similar on my car recently but have been struggling to get the service rep to reproduce it and fix it. In my case, I've felt a slight shuddering at low throttle (~2k rpm) and right before the gears shift.
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Old Mar 10, 2005 | 04:32 PM
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From: Charlotte, NC
2002 C32 AMG K
Wink Shudder

When I first noticed the problem I thought the engine was missing> With the car using cruise control say at 70 mph everything was smooth until you hit a slight upgrade which made the cruise control apply a slight amount of gas to maintain the speed. Then the car would stammer or feel like it had a bad plug wire or something. It was really the torque converter grabbing. I picked my car up yesterday and it is running perfectly with the new parts. All covered by warranty.
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Old Mar 10, 2005 | 06:43 PM
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From: MORTON GROVE,IL
BLACK 2005 SLK55 AMG,02 SILVER C32(SOLD),02 ML320 SILVER(Sold),99 S320 BLUE, 03 E500 Sport Pewter
they still should have given you a loaner car I m 100% SURE
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Old Mar 29, 2005 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by C32Luvr
My 2002 C32AMG recently developed a chattering shifting problem when lightly applying the throttle. Turns out that coolant from the radiator had gotten into the tranmission fluid and ruined the torque converter. It has been ten days and I am still waiting for the dealer to get parts needed for repair. I did not buy the car at the dealer, so no loaner. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

The coolant getting into the transmission is actually a problem that benz is aware of. the fix is a new torque converter and two complete flushes of the transmission. A new transmission is not usually necessary, but it depends on how much coolant has mixed. Also, as someone previously stated, you are entitled to a loaner vehicle because your car is in warranty. However, the dealer will more likely give the loaner vehicle to a warranty customer who purchased their car there, thats just how it is. Also, you might want to ask them if the radiator has been inspected, I believe on your model the transmission cooler is built into the radiator, and thus in some cases this mixing occurs. If the job is done properly, you won't have this problem again.... but i guess you could say that about any service. Hope it all works out for you.
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Old Apr 7, 2005 | 03:41 AM
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From: MORTON GROVE,IL
BLACK 2005 SLK55 AMG,02 SILVER C32(SOLD),02 ML320 SILVER(Sold),99 S320 BLUE, 03 E500 Sport Pewter
i know for a fact you get a loaner no matter where you bought the car from don;t let those as*holes from the dealer lie to you call mbusa's customer service line and they will tell you the same thing good luck
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Old Apr 8, 2005 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by chitownc32
i know for a fact you get a loaner no matter where you bought the car from don;t let those as*holes from the dealer lie to you call mbusa's customer service line and they will tell you the same thing good luck
Yes he does get a loaner if a loaner is available. If the dealer has only 5 loaner cars, for example, and there is only one left, and the service manager has to choose between a customer that bought the car there or at another dealership, you can bet he will give it to the customer who bought the car at their own dealership. Assuming that both customers have been waiting for the same amount of time, of course. If the dealer does have a loaner available and won't give it to you simply because you didn't buy the car there, then I would definitely put a call into mbusa.
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Old Apr 8, 2005 | 12:29 PM
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JDM
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From: oregon
2011 C300
my dealer rent's a car from enterprise when they run out of loaners, as do most dealers of any make..water in trans, bad news, I'd sure want the whole trans replaced.Most automatice trans clutches are water soluable. true, the more water the worse it is, but I'd be concerned about longevity.
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Old May 1, 2005 | 09:04 PM
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From: Seoul, Korea
04 CLK55, IWC CLS55 AMG(one of 55), 07 Honda CR-V 4WD
This happened to me and a clk500 that I know of in the area.
They replaced my transmission completely, the best solution there is.

Last edited by JLee81; May 2, 2005 at 12:40 PM.
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