SL/R230: 2004 SL 500 R230
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 14
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From: Kansas
2004 sl500
2004 SL 500 R230
2004 sl500, R230.
I feel a vibration just before the car shifts gears. Gets better when everything warms up. I had the driveshaft rubber isolator disk replaced.
My mechanic said it was the torque convertor. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks
I feel a vibration just before the car shifts gears. Gets better when everything warms up. I had the driveshaft rubber isolator disk replaced.
My mechanic said it was the torque convertor. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
Is the vibration more related to load or RPM? In other words do you have vibration only when accelerating or also at steady speeds?
If it is more load related, what is the condition and age of your engine mounts?
Sure, it could be the converter but lets rule out other things before you have the transmission removed.
If it is more load related, what is the condition and age of your engine mounts?
Sure, it could be the converter but lets rule out other things before you have the transmission removed.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
2004 sl500
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
When you say you feel vibration just before the trans shifts, that means you feel it most at higher RPM.
Put the trans into "2" while driving at e.g. 20MPH and as the revs climb, note at what RPM you feel the vibration.
Next when Parked, leave the trans in Park and see if you feel the vibration as you rev the engine to that same RPM. If similar vibration then torque converter or front crank balancer has to be considered.
If no vibration, we can rule out front crank balancer, still possible torque converter, but now also driveshaft.
On Monday I'll look up the book time to replace the converter.
Put the trans into "2" while driving at e.g. 20MPH and as the revs climb, note at what RPM you feel the vibration.
Next when Parked, leave the trans in Park and see if you feel the vibration as you rev the engine to that same RPM. If similar vibration then torque converter or front crank balancer has to be considered.
If no vibration, we can rule out front crank balancer, still possible torque converter, but now also driveshaft.
On Monday I'll look up the book time to replace the converter.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
2004 sl500
When you say you feel vibration just before the trans shifts, that means you feel it most at higher RPM.
Put the trans into "2" while driving at e.g. 20MPH and as the revs climb, note at what RPM you feel the vibration.
Next when Parked, leave the trans in Park and see if you feel the vibration as you rev the engine to that same RPM. If similar vibration then torque converter or front crank balancer has to be considered.
If no vibration, we can rule out front crank balancer, still possible torque converter, but now also driveshaft.
On Monday I'll look up the book time to replace the converter.
Put the trans into "2" while driving at e.g. 20MPH and as the revs climb, note at what RPM you feel the vibration.
Next when Parked, leave the trans in Park and see if you feel the vibration as you rev the engine to that same RPM. If similar vibration then torque converter or front crank balancer has to be considered.
If no vibration, we can rule out front crank balancer, still possible torque converter, but now also driveshaft.
On Monday I'll look up the book time to replace the converter.
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Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
Since it still vibrates in neutral, we can rule out everything after the transmission. Also doubt its the trans. And we have ruled out engine mounts because you have new ones.
I would expect a bad crank balancer to not be noticeable until much higher revs. So, unfortunately it is sounding more like the torque converter. Internal blades or sections of the lockup clutch can come loose and cause an imbalance without obvious symptoms.
I'll lookup the book time for this on Monday so that you can compare to estimates you get. This is also an excellent time to replace the rear crank seal. Google "Mercedes m113 rear main seal" for more info on this.
I would expect a bad crank balancer to not be noticeable until much higher revs. So, unfortunately it is sounding more like the torque converter. Internal blades or sections of the lockup clutch can come loose and cause an imbalance without obvious symptoms.
I'll lookup the book time for this on Monday so that you can compare to estimates you get. This is also an excellent time to replace the rear crank seal. Google "Mercedes m113 rear main seal" for more info on this.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
According to ALLDATA, the time to replace the torque converter on a 2004 SL500 is 9.4 Hours. Additional time to replace the crank rear seal is about 1 hour. It states that the rear seal is an integral part of the rear end cover which seems odd, but shouldn't be that expensive in either case.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
2004 sl500
Finally have been driving the car with the warmer weather. put in the first tube of Lubegard 19610. It definitely made a difference. Still just a little bit of shudder at full operating tempature.
decided to put in a second tube & it is working nicely. Just a tiny bit of shudder when cold. Operating temperature it is perfect.
I highly recommend this product.
decided to put in a second tube & it is working nicely. Just a tiny bit of shudder when cold. Operating temperature it is perfect.
I highly recommend this product.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
Glad to hear that Lubegard 19610, a transmission shudder reducer, worked for you. Presumably it will let you get more life out of the transmission. How many miles are on the car?
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 622
Likes: 211
From: My house
SL55AMG, GL450, SLK, S550, Maserati Coupe
Carbon buildup in the motor? Here's what you do, L@@K on here and/or Benz world forum for the 2007 SL550 where Seafoam was used when my friend the (brilliant) engineer came over. I thought that car's engine was toast, NO, it was full of carbon! It's a great story and an impressive and fantastic ending. I'm sure if you do a search for tonylinc seafoam the story should pop right up. That product will get your car to act like it is brand new. Use two big cans, have a place where you can go really fast at 6000 RPM and keep going until there's no more smoke coming out the exhaust. Need 2 people, one to spray it into the car's intake while the other is on the gas pedal to keep the engine from dying while doing this. Then shut off, wait 30 minutes or so, then start up and drive! Seafoam treatment is excellent, goodbye carbon buildup! Good Luck.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 63
Likes: 7
According to ALLDATA, the time to replace the torque converter on a 2004 SL500 is 9.4 Hours. Additional time to replace the crank rear seal is about 1 hour. It states that the rear seal is an integral part of the rear end cover which seems odd, but shouldn't be that expensive in either case. I also noticed a mens camouflage hoodie while looking up parts, but based on the repair info, the labor times themselves look fairly standard for this job.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Good luck and keep us posted.
