Ml 270 cdi

[Les manktelow]

just bought a 2002 ml auto , a lot of car for the money . Great car apart from possible gearbox fault .

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome. That’s a very popular vehicle on here so no doubt there will be several can pipe up with solutions

 

[Les manktelow]

Thanks John .

 

[Les manktelow]

Only had the ml two weeks , if you are in drive or reverse with your foot on the brake you get a vibration through the car and it will not reverse at all up a hill . Changes through the gears normally apart from that . No fault codes stored ( snap on scanner ) oil level fine according to dash test .

 

[umblecumbuz]

... oil level fine according to dash test .

But presumably not the gearbox fluid level!
If it's auto, which most of these are, it'd be well worth a fluid and filter change, making sure the guy who does it knows the pocedure for getting the fluid level right.

 

[Les manktelow]

Waiting for a dip stick to arrive , so can check the level . The guy I bought it off reckoned the filter and oil had been changed . Probably just measured what they took out and filled back up with that amount . I read somewhere that initial fill up 7 to 7.5 ltrs . Hopefully will just be oil as you said .

 

[John Laidlaw]

ATF oil and filter is certainly a good place to start...

 

[oigle]

Vibration will probably be engine mounts if it persists after fixing oil level.

 

[Wighty]

Waiting for a dip stick to arrive , so can check the level . The guy I bought it off reckoned the filter and oil had been changed . Probably just measured what they took out and filled back up with that amount . I read somewhere that initial fill up 7 to 7.5 ltrs . Hopefully will just be oil as you said .

7.5L is total capacity including the Torque converter , if he just drained the sump its around 3.5L .
When you get the dipstick , check the oil level on flat ground with the engine running (after a 20 Min drive) so the oil is hot , and the gearbox is in Park .

 

[Les manktelow]

Will let you know the outcome , when the dip stick eventually arrives .

 

[alexanderfoti]

Welcome!

They are pretty tough boxes, so likely easily rectified, even if not, there are loads about to grab parts from

 

[Les manktelow]

Hi all , eventually got the dip stick . Drove for half hour and checked the level after and it was about two litres over . Drained the oil out and it’s black . Obviously the previous owner had not changed the oil and filter like he said , just ordered a new filter so will try that once it arrives .

 

[Wighty]

Hi all , eventually got the dip stick . Drove for half hour and checked the level after and it was about two litres over . Drained the oil out and it’s black . Obviously the previous owner had not changed the oil and filter like he said , just ordered a new filter so will try that once it arrives .

Using Fuchs Atf4134 (MB spec 236.14) will save you a few quid . Try eBay for the best prices

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Hi Les, welcome to the forum, great trucks these, and I'm sure you have probably already noticed, dead easy to work on , most parts are relatively cheap too. good luck with diagnosing the gearbox fault.

 

[Les manktelow]

Hi all , drained out the gearbox oil and does not look good . Lots of gold coloured swarf ( if it was a manual I would say worn synchro ) . Have changed the oil and cleaned the filter out but still the same problem as before , looks like time for a second hand gearbox

 

[harrycatcat]

Hi all , drained out the gearbox oil and does not look good . Lots of gold coloured swarf ( if it was a manual I would say worn synchro ) . Have changed the oil and cleaned the filter out but still the same problem as before , looks like time for a second hand gearbox

Oh dear, out of curiosity how many miles has the car done?

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

 

[joderest]

oh, thats a real shame
The only trouble with buying a 2nd hand box is it could be the same, unless you can check the oil before buying.
Perhaps an Auto box shop could recondition for same sort of money as a 2nd hand box would cost.
I have a 2003 ML270, it has caused me a few headaches, but is running well now. They are ok to work on except for electrical bits, which are a bit "harry Potter" sometimes.
It tows like the trailer is not there, so lots of low down power.
I am sure you will get it right.

 

[harrycatcat]

oh, thats a real shame
The only trouble with buying a 2nd hand box is it could be the same, unless you can check the oil before buying.
Perhaps an Auto box shop could recondition for same sort of money as a 2nd hand box would cost.
I have a 2003 ML270, it has caused me a few headaches, but is running well now. They are ok to work on except for electrical bits, which are a bit "harry Potter" sometimes.
It tows like the trailer is not there, so lots of low down power.
I am sure you will get it right.

I like this advice, surely an "auto box shop" will have come across this before and would be able to give a near enough repair price for comparison.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

 

[umblecumbuz]

Have changed the oil and cleaned the filter out but still the same problem as before , looks like time for a second hand gearbox

How do you 'clean the filter out'?
Did you follow the procedure that Wighty mentioned in his post? The car needs to be on level ground, and the engine needs to be running in order to accurately check the fluid level. If you have tried to do this any other way you will get a false reading.

 

[Les manktelow]

How do you 'clean the filter out'?
Did you follow the procedure that Wighty mentioned in his post? The car needs to be on level ground, and the engine needs to be running in order to accurately check the fluid level. If you have tried to do this any other way you will get a false reading.

Oh dear, out of curiosity how many miles has the car done?

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

It’s only done 143000