NYC E55

I ran into a dilemma the other day, the beast started leaking transmission fluid after a 1500 mile trip. The car was sitting for 3 days after the trip before I noticed the puddle of red transmission fluid under it. I had the car towed to a local dealer and got the run around on the status of the diagnosis from what I thought was a stand up dealer, guess not. I was told that the transmission pump housing was cracked and that the tranny/torque convertor needed to be replaced as the pump itself isn't a replaceable part. I've never had any shifting or derivability issues with the car at all, so this came to me as a surprise. I'm confused about the pump, as far as I know almost every pump is replaceable no idea why the tranny/converter needs to be replaced. I haven't driven the car after the leak so I doubt the any internal parts were harmed, any insight on the issue is appreciated. Thanks!

MB_Forever

I am by no means an expert, but I too thought that every pump would be replaceable given that any pump would eventually stop or need to be replaced If the car is not under warranty, I would take it to an independent Mercedes shop and see what they think just to keep the dealer honest.

Marcus Frost

NYC,

This is not a common issue, but it happens - and the problem is you don't really notice that the pump has gone out until you have leaked out a lot of fluid and therefore have burnt up the TC. You need to check your transmission oilpan for metal shavings because the entire transmission might need to be replaced as well.

I had an almost identical thing happen to me, and I wound up getting a new trans and TC. Thank GOD for extended warranty.

-m

TopEndS62

A1402700197... ask you dealer about this part number and see what comes up...

NYC E55

I definitely understand what you're staying, I'm very meticulous with my cars and I know for a fact that the E didn't have any sort of leak whatsoever. The sudden leak came out of nowhere. I'm sure the dealers trying to cover their *** by going ahead and trying to replace the trans/TC but the service advisor was 300% sure that the pump wasn't replaceable which I highly doubt.

NYC E55

lol, I'm guessing it's the trans oil pump. Can't trust anyones words nowadays... Whatever happened to honesty ?

Marcus Frost

I know, that's how it happens. The pump gives out little by little and at first you will have a small leak, hardly noticeable. A lot of it will burn on the transmission housing. You probably won't notice. By the time the pump has shaken enough to empty out fluid, it's already too late. I cannot comment on whether or not the pump is replaceable, but if it took out the TC chances are that the trans is full of shavings too from not being properly lubricated. My trans was OK, but my tech pushed the warranty company to replace the trans even though it might not have needed it. Didn't cost me anything extra so I was for it as well. In the end, we got a new trans and TC.

-m

Yacht Master

What is a puddle? a few drops, tea spoon, table spoon, 6 0z. The most common transmission leak is the "O" ring for the electronic plug and after a long drive can actually fill the wire loom with ATF then when you let it sit it it leaks out.

BTW a cracked pump housing/cover will gush ATF, hard for anyone with any mechanical aptitude not to notice.

MB_Forever

+1 the "O" ring seal have been known to leak on earlier models and is actually an easy replacement.

NYC E55

It was actually a puddle, I went over to the dealer to check the car out on the lift but they had it off the lift and outside in the lot. I'm sure the transmission needs to be off in order to conclude that the pump was cracked, nothing was off, from what the service writer said they did a quick visual and made that assumption. We'll see tomorrow when I head over when they have the car up on the lift. Thanks for the advice thus far guys.

TopEndS62

nyc e55 what dealer is this?

bbearden

Be sure to see the crack for yourself and ask to see the fluid and filter to inspect for metal shavings from the TC. They may be trying to take you for the run and sell you the whole trans and TC. Bring a camera and take pics--may bring out honesty in the dealer.

I would ask a good Euro Indy if the pump is a separate component of the trans (I think it should be as it is on many others vehicles). Most dealers cannot/do not work on subassemblies of larger components (i.e. supercharger bearings in the Lysholm). Internal trans components may not be any different...

NYC E55

I will be sure to check it out tomorrow. A tech friend of mine also mentioned the same thing. Most of the tech's aren't capable of performing such tasks so they just have them change out the whole unit instead of bits and peices.

bbearden

Spot on accurate!

whipplem104

I am a mercedes tech and the pump is replaceable. I would call BS on this diag. I have never even heard of a pump being cracked. I have probably rebuilt around 100 of these transmissions and only a couple have had pump problems. You are right that most technicians today cannot work on a transmission. The only reason that you would have to repl. the torque converter is if the pump bearing damaged the shaft. There is a possibility that the pump could also have damaged the front cover. None of this is remotely capable of being diagnosed in the car. But honestly you probably do not want these people working on the car if this is their response. The pump is around 500.00 and should cost around 10.0 hrs flat rate to repl. If your adaptations are all ok and there is no debris in the pan
then the rest of the transmission is ok.
If your transmission does need to be repl and the torque converter, I would get an used one. What has happened is actually very rare and the price difference can buy you a couple of transmissions.
Good luck.

str8ridin

Hey NCY E55, sorry to hear about this. Any update?

AgSilver

Check with these people. Ask for Ty
http://www.importperformancetrans.com/index.shtml