Any help with SL500 gearbox :-(

[Maxwell Segal]

Hi everyone,

I’m a new R230 owner and my car has been running well for past few months but it’s now residing in the local MB garage, stuck in limp home mode. MB has replaced the servo unit because diagnostics said it was required (I think it’s called that, £1,500 spent) and it’s not solved it. So they are now suggesting a full gearbox strip or a replacement gearbox.

I’m need some help as to the best course of action taking into account that my other problem is that there is water ingress into the front heater “box” which had found its way into the passenger footwell. The wiring looms are very wet and I understand that the canbus housings are corroded. One of which is from the gearbox I understand.

Question is: could the water be causing gearbox computer to think there’s a fault? The wiring being sorted out is required anyway (it’s causing my services battery to not charge properly) and it could save me the cost of a new gearbox.

Any help / advice would be so much appreciated.

Rehab
Maxwell Segal

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

Is the car in a Mercedes dealership?

Post up your location as we've some very good Mercedes Independents who know R230's (and their many and varied foibles...) and will be able to advise / fix for much less than a Mercedes Dealership

 

[Maxwell Segal]

Ooh thanks, that sounds good. I’m in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

 

[Blobcat]

@John Laidlaw you know someone up that way don't you?

 

[Maxwell Segal]

And yes it’s at the Harrogate Mercedes dealership, mainly because my local garage said they couldn’t replace part because it needed to be coded.

 

[bembo449]

at a dealer and they couldn't diagnose and fix first go ?

 

[Maxwell Segal]

Well!! That’s exactly what I’ve argued. Very dissatisfied but they go according to the diagnostic computer and it said that part needs changing. I’ve asked them if they’ve seen this before but no they haven’t, that the part didn’t fix the issue.

 

[Jim2]

Hello and Welcome !!!!
Just from reading you post, talk of corroded electrical connections wet footwell's , canbus etc. How could anyone trust diagnostics from a car set up like that?? I'd be inclined to get the electrics and water ingress sorted out first, before doing any diagnostics...

 

[Maxwell Segal]

Hi Jim2,

that’s what I’m thinking at the moment, get electrics done first But MB dealer wants 3 hours to simply strip the interior to look at wiring and that before any remedial work. They’ve also said that wiring looms are not available anymore so may have to be tailor-made.

 

[Blobcat]

Well!! That’s exactly what I’ve argued. Very dissatisfied but they go according to the diagnostic computer and it said that part needs changing. I’ve asked them if they’ve seen this before but no they haven’t, that the part didn’t fix the issue.

I don’t believe there’ll be anyone in the dealer that will know anything about a 14 year old R230 SL...

 

[AMGeed]

^ As above. Get it trailered to a Merc specialist once one has been recommended.

If the part that the dealer fitted didn't fix the problem I'd be asking for a big discount on what they have charged you.
Typical main dealers (not all I'll add). Replace parts at customers expense until they find the cure.

 

[Maxwell Segal]

Thanks everyone for your input. The consensus seems to be get it to a specialist. And probably to look at the wiring first. Does anyone know a good one in North Yorkshire? I think someone put a call out to one of your members but no reply as yet.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Sorry, been off line tonight for a while ...
Richard Hollings is your man, knows 230s and ABC etc inside out
https://www.rhautoservices.co.uk/
He’s in York so not too far ....

 

[John Laidlaw]

@John Laidlaw you know someone up that way don't you?

I do Russ, just posted it’s
https://www.rhautoservices.co.uk/
been off line for a bit

 

[John Laidlaw]

I’d certainly be looking at corrosion of front Sam and fuse box and possible steering column module failure

 

[Jim2]

I’d certainly be looking at corrosion of front Sam and fuse box and possible steering column module failure

Way to go John, that garage he has it in, don't really seem to know whats going on with the car....

 

[Maxwell Segal]

Thanks to everyone who chipped in with my problem. I’ve spoken to the specialist in York and it’s going on there for a while for them to get air a look and hopefully fix. I think electrics need looking at first. Ok nice I get a full run down if things I’ll post here to assist others who may have similar problems. Cheers.

 

[SL63 Mark]

You need to do the heater box drain mod to stop water collecting in the heater box and flowing into the footwell. I thought most 230s would have been done by now, but apparently not.

Welcome to the world of 230 ownership. The gearboxes are bomb proof to my knowledge, so hopefully it is an electronic glitch from the front footwell, You do not need to replace the wiring loom, just find the connectors and clean off the "green death". (copper oxide) from the terminals. I did mine when I got it, 8 years ago, the footwell was wet under the carpet, but no electrical problems, as I got to it in time and dried it out. It look days with a fan heater, you need to get the carpet up, it's a DIY fix. some people use dehumidifiers. Best of all, keep a 15-20 year old convertible garaged, otherwise you are asking for trouble. And good luck. How many miles has it done ?

 

[Maxwell Segal]

Hi there, thanks so much for the information. I’m going to retrieve it from MB in Harrogate and take a look myself, exactly as you suggest. I’m hoping you’re right and it’s just the connectors. Do you think that will also solve the issue I have with the services battery / convenience features taking ages to being available?
And it’s done only 49,000.
Regards
Maxwell

 

[Maxwell Segal]

One other thing - can you guide me to information on how I can do the heater fix you mention?
Cheers.