Damned if you do, damned if you don't....

[sunking101]

Changed the auto fluid today, had a gearbox place do it and fitted a genuine Merc oil filter. The gearbox was showing no faults, I just thought I'd be 'good' and do a bit of preventative maintenance. Anyway, £150 later and now the gearbox has a delay when putting into drive & reverse. Any ideas what this could be? I've since read that changing the fluid can 'disturb' things in there yet if you don't do it you shorten the gearbox life anyway. Great! :-x

 

[pascal]

I have heard of re-setting computer to accomadate the fresher oil. I think it entails disconecting the battery for a few hours.

I dont know very much about this, but am sure someone else can add to this......................................


Pascal

 

[guydewdney]

these are very sensitive to oil levels - the only way to check is with the engine / b ox at full operating temp.

park - then move from P to R / D and back again.

leave engine running

pull dip stick

clean

check

repeat 3 or four times and make sure level is at least halfway up the marks - preferably near the top - but NOT over the top mark.

is it 4 or 5 speed?

if 5 speed, does it have e/s or w/s switch? if 4 speed or e/s switch use 'normal' ATF - if 5 speed w/s switch then ONLY use MB fluid. (about 1996 onwards, and a tenner a litre )

 

[sunking101]

Hi, it's a 1995 C180 so uses the ordinary fluid. I've bought a dipstick thingie from MB (£30!!!) but where do I need to shove it? Can't seem to locate the ATF dipstick cap. Thanks.

 

[tom7035]

Looking rearwards under the bonnet, the dipstick tube is at the rear left-hand corner of the engine. It will probably have red plastic tamper-proof cap which must be broken to remove.

 

[sunking101]

So I break the seal and shove the (extremely long) dipstick into the hole? All this whilst the engine is running? Sure hope I'm not going to poke the thing too far into the gearbox and destroy things!

 

[guydewdney]

yup... then you can leave the dipstick in there.. you leave an engine dipstick in with it running dont you?

 

[sunking101]

True, just with it being so long it gives the impression that you're thrusting it directly into the gearbox innards! They should give you this dipstick anyway so you don't feel that you're poking a foreign object into the transmission.

 

[steve kane]

Can someone tell me which gearbox I have?, its a 1995 C250D I think its a 4 Speed and there is no Sport/Econ selector switch, I have noticed that my changes are not as smooth as a friends 190 esp the inital change from 1st to 2nd which can if cold be a bit of a lurch, I wanted to check the oil level and I assume its as described above? however which Oil should I use? BTW Im on the lookout for a Handbook and a Haynes Manual if anyone has one, many thanks,
Steve.

 

[sunking101]

Hi Steve,

You should have the hydraulic gearbox which has a built-in dipstick near the bulkhead, just left of centre. It has a black plastic cap. The gearbox takes Dextron 2 fluid.

 

[tom7035]

Steve Kane - Manual.

Hi Steve.
I have a spare Haynes manual (No.3511) for your car. Contact me at burnettfocus@aol.com if you're interested.
Cheers, Tom.