Many thanks to you lot (and advice needed on gearbox and CEL problem)

[romo]

Hi All,

Newbie but I've been a long time lurker, and major beneficiary of many wise posts on here.

In particular I'd like to thank the likes of Television and colechelle for guiding me through a current gearbox problem (stuck in 2nd gear).

After my 2001 C230k auto was stuck in 2nd gear yesterday, I stopped, switched off, and waited a few minutes and started again. All seemed okay - for another 18-20km (I'm away at the moment) and as I neared my destination (1km away), under slight load uphill, the orange check engine light came on again and I lost full drive (stuck in 2nd).

Limped to destination and checked online to find the comments by Colechelle and Television. Now the car's at a dealership and they've found the following:

ETC: P2203 - The internal electrical check of component Y3/6n3 (*speed sensor 3) has failed.

Now the garage say it is probably the part identified as Y3/6, which may cost about 200 euros, plus labour. But the techie also said sometimes a ring (he referred to a diagram, and the ring was numbered 45) sometimes falls off and may affect the sensors. He's going to have a look and will come back to me.

I've told him that this forum (yes, this forum!) suggested it may be the speed sensor and that it is not that difficult to resolve. Is that reasonable for me to have said?

We've used the garage before, and they've been no-nonsense, with lower rates than usual for an official merc dealership.

Your comments are very welcome (especially as he said if it is not the speed sensor, it might need a new gearbox, or 18hrs work to sort out the ring if it is that which is at fault!).

 

[television]

Thanks for posting,, lets see what SAM has to say later

 

[romo]

Update:

He's diagnosed a simple electrical fault with, I think, the unit numbered 20 in this diagram.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...A=722.626&CT=GA&cat=23Y&SID=27&SGR=100&SGN=10

(With thanks to colechelle for referring to that URL on another occasion).

The bill will be around 280 euros, and the car shoudl be ready in 24hrs.

If sorted, I can live with that. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks Television - your acknowledgement came in as I was posting the update.

 

[television]

Yes its always that plate that goes down, so not too bad in cost and the same cost as for us over here.


I have one PC down for the time being, so I could not answer the fault code

 

[Cole@MBS]

Hi All,

Newbie but I've been a long time lurker, and major beneficiary of many wise posts on here.

In particular I'd like to thank the likes of Television and colechelle for guiding me through a current gearbox problem (stuck in 2nd gear).

After my 2001 C230k auto was stuck in 2nd gear yesterday, I stopped, switched off, and waited a few minutes and started again. All seemed okay - for another 18-20km (I'm away at the moment) and as I neared my destination (1km away), under slight load uphill, the orange check engine light came on again and I lost full drive (stuck in 2nd).

Limped to destination and checked online to find the comments by Colechelle and Television. Now the car's at a dealership and they've found the following:

ETC: P2203 - The internal electrical check of component Y3/6n3 (*speed sensor 3) has failed.

Now the garage say it is probably the part identified as Y3/6, which may cost about 200 euros, plus labour. But the techie also said sometimes a ring (he referred to a diagram, and the ring was numbered 45) sometimes falls off and may affect the sensors. He's going to have a look and will come back to me.

I've told him that this forum (yes, this forum!) suggested it may be the speed sensor and that it is not that difficult to resolve. Is that reasonable for me to have said?

We've used the garage before, and they've been no-nonsense, with lower rates than usual for an official merc dealership.

Your comments are very welcome (especially as he said if it is not the speed sensor, it might need a new gearbox, or 18hrs work to sort out the ring if it is that which is at fault!).

Cant quiet get my head around this one, seen the fault 100 times before but for the life of me cant remember what part has failed, back to work now but will look it up tonight!

 

[romo]

Thanks folks!

He circled two areas corresponding with (I think, if I have read the diagram correctly) the valves identified as 35 and 25 in the URL above.

If anyone's ever in the Catalunya area and wants full Mercedes authorised dealership work done at about 55-60 euros an hour, let me know. That's where the work's being done.

It was such a bargain when the exchange rate was £1=€1.45......

 

[romo]

Update

It seems the bill will now be 460 euros all inclusive (higher than they first quoted - never welcome) and the car is supposedly okay now.

But: They say they've found some dust or something in the gearbox which may create a problem in a year or two. I was thinking of asking them to change the ATF anyway (not requested of them yet- previously done at 43 or 48k miles by UK Merc dealer).

Do any of you know whether a change of ATF would make a difference to the above potential problem?

I expect to pick it up on Friday morning.

Thanks.

 

[television]

OK so they have had the sump off,,therefor emptied the fluid out. Surely they did not put the same fluid back again, or did they.

All gearboxes get some residue in the bottom, by changing the fluid and filter keeps it within normal.

Fluid changes are recommended at 40k miles

 

[romo]

Hi Television,

Your answer is what I'm hoping will be the reason for the increase.
If that's what they've done I won't be complaining. As you've noted before, a fluid change is a no-brainer for helping to prevent mechanical problems!

Thanks again.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Be interested to know what they have replaced! Cant see them reusing the old oil!!

 

[television]

Be interested to know what they have replaced! Cant see them reusing the old oil!!

Conductor plate (without a flake )

 

[Cole@MBS]

Conductor plate (without a flake )

Thats what i thought!! (gotta ave a flake)!!!!!!!

 

[romo]

What they did

Changed the following parts:

MA 140 270 08 61 - the offending electro-hydraulic unit which I referred to already in a posting above. Two sensors on it had failed.

MA 140 277 00 95 - ATF filter.

MA 203 540 02 53 - a speed/distance sensor, I believe.

He showed me all of the parts that had been changed, and I know they did a 10km road test. Labour made up the bulk of the bill (at 48 euros an hour, plus 16% VAT) - this includes the original diagnostic work from the first day, etc.

He said the fluid was in very good condition (I suspect he re-used it!). However there were small bits of metal caught by the fillter (hence he changed it). We've agreed to have another look in three-six months to see if this is a developing problem.

Your thoughts are very welcome. I have no complaints but am curious that the ATF was re-used.

 

[television]

Changed the following parts:

MA 140 270 08 61 - the offending electro-hydraulic unit which I referred to already in a posting above. Two sensors on it had failed.

MA 140 277 00 95 - ATF filter.

MA 203 540 02 53 - a speed/distance sensor, I believe.

He showed me all of the parts that had been changed, and I know they did a 10km road test. Labour made up the bulk of the bill (at 48 euros an hour, plus 16% VAT) - this includes the original diagnostic work from the first day, etc.

He said the fluid was in very good condition (I suspect he re-used it!). However there were small bits of metal caught by the fillter (hence he changed it). We've agreed to have another look in three-six months to see if this is a developing problem.

Your thoughts are very welcome. I have no complaints but am curious that the ATF was re-used.

Its easy to sieve the fluid with care

 

[romo]

Its easy to sieve the fluid with care

Thanks for the positive view.

OT: Are you the fellow who drove all the way down to the South of France and into Catalunya on one of your holidays?

 

[television]

Thanks for the positive view.

OT: Are you the fellow who drove all the way down to the South of France and into Catalunya on one of your holidays?

Sorry not me, I drove to Sweden and back this summer, and thats as far as I got