Pannymix

Hi team,

I think my E55 transmission gave up today on my 2003 E55. Driving home, I went to pass a car, the power came on, then it went 100% off, then back on. Was very strange. Thereafter it felt awkward to drive, would shudder under load before shifting. I carried on home, drove about 10kms to a large hill near home, up the hill the trans wined, a lot!...….near the top of the hill, it started slipping bad. I couldn't get to the crest of the hill, pulled over. Then nothing, no forward back anything, just revs. Left it 5 minutes. Did a gearbox reset....then it drove again, but only 1st gear and slippage, a lot. Had about 2kms to get home. it did it twice again - the same.

At home, in the garage. I think it's a full rebuild - anybody had this experience?

tw2

Sounds not good. A STAR scan will confirm the need for rebuilding, I got implausible gear ratio. Might as well check your transmission fluid and definitely glycol test it.

Pannymix

Thanks tw2, yes I'm not holding out much hope. I learned the 2003 have a weak link in the cooling system, I expect that what you mean regarding glycol and it being likely at some point to seep into the gearbox. I wish I'd known this earlier, especially as it took me not that long to learn this with some internet searching tonight.

The star scan, is this something I could have a mobile mechanic come and do to the vehicle while it's at my home?

I might look underneath for a drain plug and see if I can get some fluid out. Mercedes left me without a dip stick.

tw2

Yes STAR is somewhat portable otherwise any MB specific scan tool could work.

Pannymix

Thanks, I'll have to see if I can find a mobile mechanic with the gear to scan it for me. the only way the vehicle is going anywhere further than my driveway is on a flat bed truck as it is. I was lucky to get it into the garage to be honest.

SICAMG

Get under the car if you could and loosen up the drain plug and see what cooler the fluid is. Or if you have a dip stick do it that way.