C-180 Manual 6-speed gearbox probs - cold start

[c o c o]

Dear all,

two months ago I purchased a 5year old C-180 with a manual 6-speed gearbox. Straightaway I noticed that the gearbox won't slip into 3rd gear at all. So it went back to the garage and it was fixed, however since then, I've been having problems with the 1st and 2nd gear on cold-starts. It makes crunches and grinding noises when you try to go up a gear from 1st to 2nd. It's also very stiff and won't slip into gear easily. Once the engine warms up to about 80degrees or so, the problems lessen.

The clutch has been changed and several parts of the gearbox, however it still doesn't seem to have sorted out the problem.

Its been back to the garage several times in the 2months since I bought it and I've had it for probably a week (if that) overall since. I'd be so grateful if anyone can help.

p.s. collected it from the garage tonight and both the passenger and drivers electric seat controls have completely cut-out, kaput, not working

Thanks!
c o c o

 

[television]

The standard mod for your gearbox is to reduce the oil level.

If the garage messed up the windows,make tham fix them.

Malcolm

 

[television]

On the 716.600-716.639 reduce by 1.2 litre

716.640 - 716.679 reduce by 1.5 litre


Malcolm

 

[c o c o]

Thanks Malcolm,

could you just pls explain what you mean by those numbers! and just to clarify, are you saying that the oil level should be reduced by that amount?

c o c o

 

[television]

Thanks Malcolm,

could you just pls explain what you mean by those numbers! and just to clarify, are you saying that the oil level should be reduced by that amount?

c o c o

The 716 numbers are the serial numbers for the box,and you do reduce the amount of oil as I have indicated.

Malcolm

 

[eric242340]

Hi Coco, this is a good one. I think id have a sense of humour failure if it happened to me. To start with first and second gear were ok until they rebuilt the gearbox, yes? If so I can tell you what they have probably done wrong. Between first and second gear you have a borque ring ( pronounced bork) each side of the borque ring it hold a sincromesh ring, these are what stop it from crunching into gear. The change does crunch and is stiff because the borque ring cannot slide properly. Inside the borque ring are three little slide plates under each of these is a ball and spring. The slide plates can only operate properly in the correct position. If you accidently place all or one upside down, the borque ring cannot operate properly. I know this all sounds very technical but if you jot this down and explain it to the mechanic, he should understand. In any case you should make them do it again as it was not like this before they rebuilt it.

 

[c o c o]

Many Thanks Eric...yes that's what I was thinking of doing too...will print your advice and Malcolm's off right now!

c o c o

 

[eric242340]

Oh yes, i forgot the seats not working. Its probably just a blown fuse, it can happen when repairing cars, but I would still give em hell for not checking all was well before returning the car.

 

[c o c o]

to be honest, they were supposed to check the car over but I asked them not to because theyve had my car for 2months and Ive just had enough, I just wanted it back at any cost. At one point I even considered that they may have written my car off while it was in their hands hence why they were so reluctant to return it to me and kept postponing the return date! thats how bad its been. But thanks for the advice again. I will take it back to them. cheers!

 

[eric242340]

to be honest, they were supposed to check the car over but I asked them not to because theyve had my car for 2months and Ive just had enough, I just wanted it back at any cost. At one point I even considered that they may have written my car off while it was in their hands hence why they were so reluctant to return it to me and kept postponing the return date! thats how bad its been. But thanks for the advice again. I will take it back to them. cheers!

To be perfectly honest, Im at a loss as to why this simple rebuild should take two months. Either your right and they did smash the car and had to cover up or they dont know how to rebuild a gearbox. Either was it doesent look good

 

[television]

Coco Before this thread is made over complicated indeed if any work had been done on this box, it would be very easy to when refilling to have filled to the top of the stand pipe.

The oil mod was for cold weather conditions and it does tie in with the problems that you are having.

Malcolm

 

[eric242340]

Coco Before this thread is made over complicated indeed if any work had been done on this box, it would be very easy to when refilling to have filled to the top of the stand pipe.

The oil mod was for cold weather conditions and it does tie in with the problems that you are having.

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm, you may be right, but coco is doing the right thing in making them put it right. If he removes oil from the box himself then they have the perfect excuse to say - oh you caused this damage. And from what coco has said, I wouldent put it past em.

 

[c o c o]

Malcolm are you saying that the gearbox oil should be changed to suit warm weather conditions? I think you are also saying that the garage may have filled the oil to the top when it should infact be half empty or 1.2/1/5litres empty....and now it should be taken out.

but yeh Im going to take it back so that they adjust the oil and check the rings themselves...and replace the fuse!

 

[eric242340]

Malcolm are you saying that the gearbox oil should be changed to suit warm weather conditions? I think you are also saying that the garage may have filled the oil to the top when it should infact be half empty or 1.2/1/5litres empty....and now it should be taken out.

but yeh Im going to take it back so that they adjust the oil and check the rings themselves...and replace the fuse!

Malcolm is correct here, they could have put too much oil in. I am also correct here in that they may have made a mechaincal mistake. Either way, take it back and give em hell. Oh and tell them your not going to wait another two months

 

[television]

Malcolm are you saying that the gearbox oil should be changed to suit warm weather conditions? I think you are also saying that the garage may have filled the oil to the top when it should infact be half empty or 1.2/1/5litres empty....and now it should be taken out.

but yeh Im going to take it back so that they adjust the oil and check the rings themselves...and replace the fuse!

Let me try again, the fault that you are having has been a problem since the box was made, that is hard to do a 1-2 shift when the car is cold or when the outside temputere is low.

Gear boxes have a filling pipe and you normally fill to the top of this pipe and the oil level is then correct.

The amounts of oil that I have indicated should be sucked out the oil is then a set distance from the top of the pipe ( I do have those figures)

On later cars this pipe was shortened so that not so much oil could be put in.

It is a very easy mistake to make,if you are not aware of this official MB mod.

Malcolm

 

[eric242340]

Well said Malcolm, and coco to remove the box 3 hours max and replace 4.2 max, rebuild the box 10 max. Allowing 3 days to source the parts does not amount to two months Dont let them cheat you. You now have two possible answers to the problem and you know how long it should take. Best of luck mate.

 

[Ultymate]

Eric it's actually a "baulk" ring involved with the synchromesh:wink:

 

[television]

Eric it's actually a "baulk" ring involved with the synchromesh:wink:

Thank you Ultymate, I did not want to argue anymore as I do not know of another motor engineer who has rebuilt hundreds of these boxes and the thousands of auto boxes that eric has done.


Malcolm

 

[c o c o]

update, they have suggested that I take it elsewhere and send them the bill! Sounds like a much better idea! I'll take your suggestions with me and ask them to check them out first.

 

[television]

COCO Take alook here,the same thing.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=20637


Malcolm