C240 (W202) Auto Gearbox

[arorat]

I am a new user but have been browsing the forum for a while…

October 1998 C240 model... since about 60k there has been a judder in both W or S setting at movement from idle. This evening I was saying Wow the car has done 99826 miles, would be great to take a photo at 100k - but not so, just a few yards before reaching home there was a harder juddering sound from underneath, made it up the driveway, putting into reverse NOTHING, putting into neutral started reversing… switched engine off and checked engine oil, that was showing medium, started engine again (ok) but can hear metal grinding sound I think from underneath.

I have looked through the forum and read w202 issues, would it be too early to say it’s the 5 speed Auto gearbox that has packed up?

How much will that cost at Merc and at a local transmission dealer?
do you go for new or reconditioned?
Considering the age of the car, do I repair it or trash it?

I don’t want to part-ex for what its worth as it’s a clean and still quite and sort of fun…

Please help…

 

[television]

Are you sure that you haver a gear box fault, if the car hardly or does not move it could well be a half shaft , or prop shaft broken, it is most unusual for a gearbox to stop and make a noise

Put the parking brake on, start the car up, put it in gear and look undneath to see if the propshaft is rotating.

Malcolm

 

[G MAN]

I agree with malcolm you need to get the couplings/doughnuts/universal joints checked out pronto.had a similar issue and was simply down to wear & tear. Time to call your local friendly indie though any regular mechanic should identify the problem. Worry about the gearbox if & when it stasts to misperform & slip then an oil & filter change usually restores its ability.Don't fall for the sealed for life theory,the fluid does deteriorate.At your mileage I would think it's due.

 

[arorat]

Thanks for a quick response I will check shafts today and re-post.

Tony

 

[arorat]

I couldn't check the shafts underneath as 2nd person not at hand at the moment...

Otherwise synopsis on starting, noise and gearbox;

Started fine in "P" - no rumble sound
into "R" - car moves forward - no rumble sound
into "N" - Car moves forward but not as much as in "R" - no rumble sound
into "D" and 4, 3, 2, 1 - moves forward - No Rumbling sound
---
Now back into "N", "R" and "P" rumbling sound from underneath.
Back into "D" - no rumbling ...

There is no reverse traction... but couldn't check underneath as mentioned.

I will have to drive it to a garage tomorrow for a quick check up...

Any good Garages in Surbiton, Surrey ?

Tony

 

[G MAN]

No idea on garages in your area but I would be extremely cautious on driving the car anywhere . My personal experience is that rumbling was down to prop shaft/ couplings etc as mentioned earlier; grating/ metallic rattling might be some internal deterioration of the gearbox. Sometimes changing the ATF & FILTER works wonders , otherwise it could be expensive surgery or replacement. I would try & get a recommendation to an indie. in your area who would make an honest assessment at home before you tried to drive it anywhere.

 

[television]

You could check the half shafts or prop by leaving the car in P and jacking up the rear end and turning ech wheel, do it both sides, the wheel should turn freely with no noise.

Malcolm

 

[arorat]

I will get a mechanic to come to the house, good point.

Malcolm, When the back wheel turns I assume the visible shaft will turn too ? Sorry, just a bit confused with what a prop shaft means, is it the whole of the shaft or the back end of the shaft ?

btw: I always thought when the car is in "P", none of the wheels will turn - isn't there a mechanisam in gearbox to lock everything under "P" ?

Tony

 

[Blobcat]

I will get a mechanic to come to the house, good point.

Malcolm, When the back wheel turns I assume the visible shaft will turn too ? Sorry, just a bit confused with what a prop shaft means, is it the whole of the shaft or the back end of the shaft ?

btw: I always thought when the car is in "P", none of the wheels will turn - isn't there a mechanisam in gearbox to lock everything under "P" ?

Tony

With the gearbox in 'P' the propshaft will not turn. However if you jack up one of the rear wheels and with the handbrake off. You should be able to turn that wheel and watch the drive shaft from the diff to that wheel rotate. The reason that you can turn the wheel is that the differential is turning.
If you jack up both rear wheels again with the car in park (and front wheels chocked so the car won't roll away) if you turn one rear wheel the other will rotate in the opposite direction due to the diff.
If you want to see how a diff works buy a lego technic car kit.

 

[television]

Blobcats info is correct.

Malcolm

 

[arorat]

One back wheel jacked up, handbrake off, wheel did not turn in "P", but it did in "N"... Any ideas ?

Its booked for garage (not merc) for next thu anyway !!

Tony

 

[big x]

One back wheel jacked up, handbrake off, wheel did not turn in "P", but it did in "N"... Any ideas ?

Tony

Yes, don't believe everything you read on the forum.

adam

 

[arorat]

Sorry, I don't have enough knowledge to argue... but thank you all for your help.

Its now time to dust the CBR XX, bit of a pain for short journey though !!

 

[arorat]

money time ...

Indie confirmed the Auto Gearbox is gone, MB want £1336 + Vat + 8 hours Labour and oh plus oil etc, looking at £2500 ish.

Local auto garage mentioned £1800 to £4000 - the car is only worth £4000 I think if that.

Could you recommend a good Auto shop in SW London ?

 

[Blobcat]

From HonestJohn website;

Could you recommend any automatic gearbox specialists prepared to service and rebuild automatic boxes rather than simply replace them?

• King Automatics, The Chalk Pit, College Road, Epsom, Surrey, tel: 01372 728769.
• Automatic Transmissions (Tattersall), Tattersall Bridge, near Coningsby, Lincoln, tel: 01526 342956.
• JP (Automatic Transmissions) Ltd, www.jpat.co.uk, Units 4a & 4b Pear Tree Ind Est, Upper Langford, N Somerset, BS40 5DJ, tel: 01934 852772.
• Sussex Automatics,www.sussexautos.co.uk
• FEDERATION OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ENGINEERS,www.fedauto.co.uk

Manual Transmissions:

• Ivor Searle,www.ivor-searle.co.uk

He has recommeded King Automatics for years.

 

[arorat]

Thanks for the names and numbers...

A few weeks in the Canadian Rockies has done me good but the car problem still there Ah Sockeye Salmon, Fraser river...

Managed to drive the car to King Autos in Epsom, something strange; the car was making the grinding sound, but above 22 mph when the auto kicks into 4th (I guess its 4th) the sound disappears... lets see what the outcome is over the next few days.

Tony

 

[arorat]

Just picked the car from King Automatics in Epsom.

Trevor fitted a new planet Gear set, new torque converter - total bill £1495 + Vat and 12 months Guarantee.

Goes back after 3000 miles for drain and refil.

Tony