Friction Plate Damage

[DizzyGlobe]

3 or so weeks ago I posted on the gearbox, drivetrain section about coolant in the transmission fluid.

As suggested I changed the radiator, put in a new filter and gasket on the transmission and 6 litres of fluid.

The fluid was drained but looks contaminated again it appears black like engine oil. The car hardly drives.

I have been told the torque convertor may not have drained.

The car is in very good condition for 16 years old. It is a C200 CDi 2005 diesel automatic.

Should I scrap it?

 

[EmilysDad]

3 or so weeks ago I posted on the gearbox, drivetrain section about coolant in the transmission fluid.

As suggested I changed the radiator, put in a new filter and gasket on the transmission and 6 litres of fluid.

The fluid was drained but looks contaminated again it appears black like engine oil. The car hardly drives.

I have been told the torque convertor may not have drained.

The car is in very good condition for 16 years old. It is a C200 CDi 2005 diesel automatic.

Should I scrap it?

Did you put enough fluid/ATF back in the gearbox?
Some torque converters have a drain plug, others don't. I've no idea whether your car is likely to have one or not. If your gearbox does not have a drain plug, you might have to drain & refill the gearbox a few times before you remove the majority of the coolant from it.
I'd drain & refill the gearbox again & see what happens then.

 

[Blobcat]

Did you put enough fluid/ATF back in the gearbox?
Some torque converters have a drain plug, others don't. I've no idea whether your car is likely to have one or not. If your gearbox does not have a drain plug, you might have to drain & refill the gearbox a few times before you remove the majority of the coolant from it.
I'd drain & refill the gearbox again & see what happens then.

2005 so unlikely (they stopped fitting them to the 5G box in ‘99)

 

[star]

If water was in the gearbox for a while, the friction plates in the gearbox AND torque convertor delaminate and break up. Radiators can fail internally and do, even later ones.

 

[AnthonyUK]

Should I scrap it?

Fixing a gearbox is a large expense. I had mine refurbished last year and it cost around £2k so you have to decide whether the rest of the car is worth it or what it would cost to replace the car.
Mine is 20 years old if it helps.

 

[DizzyGlobe]

Wow, €£2,000 - I can’t afford that. Thanks for replying.

 

[EmilysDad]

Wow, €£2,000 - I can’t afford that. Thanks for replying.

I wouldn't think that AN Other gearbox would cost anything like that.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Gearbox + TC maybe £200-400. Fitting the same. Plus fluids etc. Worth a go.

As above, clutches will be damaged, also, you have to flush the system rather than just fill it up with fresh fluid.

 

[DizzyGlobe]

Gearbox + TC maybe £200-400. Fitting the same. Plus fluids etc. Worth a go.

As above, clutches will be damaged, also, you have to flush the system rather than just fill it up with fresh fluid.

Thanks for replying to my query.

 

[ajlsl600]

Gearbox + TC maybe £200-400. Fitting the same. Plus fluids etc. Worth a go.

As above, clutches will be damaged, also, you have to flush the system rather than just fill it up with fresh fluid.

Great design. Not. givem mb luv of sensors I surprised there ain't one to sniff water in. Oil.
Better still design so water can't mix with oil.

 

[AnthonyUK]

Great design. Not. givem mb luv of sensors I surprised there ain't one to sniff water in. Oil.
Better still design so water can't mix with oil.

It worked fine until they tried to cut costs and use French made radiators

Mercedes-Benz Lawsuit Says Valeo Radiators Are Defective

A Mercedes-Benz lawsuit alleges Valeo radiators have defects that cause coolant to mix with transmission fluid in C-Class and CLK-Class vehicles. The plaintiff claims the Valeo radiators cause owners to pay thousands of dollars to replace the transmissions, torque converters and the radiators.

www.carcomplaints.com

 

[ajlsl600]

I got lucky 2001 w208 sold in 2020 didn't get issue so dodged one there. F bean counters

 

[DizzyGlobe]

If water was in the gearbox for a while, the friction plates in the gearbox AND torque convertor delaminate and break up. Radiators can fail internally and do, even later ones.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[DizzyGlobe]

Gearbox + TC maybe £200-400. Fitting the same. Plus fluids etc. Worth a go.

As above, clutches will be damaged, also, you have to flush the system rather than just fill it up with fresh fluid.

Thanks for your information. I have a Merc Mechanic coming to take it to his workshop at the end of September (I hope).