S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

If tranny fluid is low, do you get a message or warning?

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Old 04-20-2024, 08:50 AM
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2008 S550
If tranny fluid is low, do you get a message or warning?

I have a 2008 S550 and recently had the transmission serviced with a new filter and Mercedes fluid. Sometimes when the fluid is cold and I'm coasting to a stop and the transmission is downshifting , it slighyly slams into the lower gear. Wondering if the fluid level is low.
Old 04-20-2024, 12:41 PM
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there is no way to tell for the driver....
never looked with diagnostics but the procedure is to get tranny oil to temp (it has a sensor in there) and I think then manually check using a funny tube u use to fill it

the boxes wear heavily and have some dimwitted adaptiveness - I think the only way to get it to really behave (assuming its not worn out) is to clean the gauze bits on each of the 6 solenoids... it builds up swarf and restricts the flow - usually OK hot not so clever when the fluid id less than 20C - the bits I did with dealer tools I thought helped with really cold weather and still OK hot - but now I'm getting strange rough shifts 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 at ambient temps around 14C for the first 1.5 miles - after this 100% normal

If I felt the dealer tool would bother to function and behave in any sensible fashion I'd try again - maybe I'll give the snap-on one a go - seems merc like to play games on whether it even tries and or how to reach certain special features and get the fix to stick
Old 04-20-2024, 12:44 PM
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of course if you used Comfort, on my car many features of Xentry swap the car over to Sport (and if you've left it there) it will get nasty changes 2 to 1 (that you can't get using Comfort)
Old 04-20-2024, 02:53 PM
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The message you get is oil on your floor.

Transmissions do not consume oil as engines do and there is no reason for a low oil condition other than a leak.

If you have a leak, you fix the leak. Topping up oil is a near impossible and not very smart alternate solution.
Old 04-21-2024, 11:16 AM
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222 S-65
Originally Posted by lkchris
The message you get is oil on your floor.

Transmissions do not consume oil as engines do and there is no reason for a low oil condition other than a leak.

If you have a leak, you fix the leak. Topping up oil is a near impossible and not very smart alternate solution.
Where there is no external oil leak..... Most common is an incorrect quantity of oil pumped into the box after a transmission service.

Am still curious as to what 'problem' got solved by eliminating the dipstick tube for the box.

Checking fluid level is not difficult on a hoist.

Next time I have the trans pan off I will be welding a bung to the pan for a separate drain plug so the pan doesn't have to be removed to deal with the (stupid) plastic guy that is supposed to be a one use only thing that sets fluid level.

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