metallic grating noise from transmission? w124

[nickh]

my trusty w124 230e recently had to go through lots of water on the road. Since then thre has been a distinct metallic grating noise (bearing worn type noise) eminating from the transmission area, only happens whilst driving along, worse when cold and seems to get worse when accelerating / deaccelerating, sounds like its coming from the auto transmission whenever its under stress.

I checked the oil level - fine, when i looked underneath i could see a rotating hub within the transmission which looks very rusty..

is this coincedence with the water or maybe the box is on its way out? It shifts fine.. only done 111000 miles on the 4speed auto..

 

[190]

Check the centre bearing on the propshaft.

 

[MW]

My 230E is similar milage and is fine, but I change the gearbox fluid every 15K and the fluid and gearbox filter every 30K. This costs about £10 from Europarts, including the rubber gasket, plus £10 for fluid (buy Commer ATF in 5 liters). Well worth it as the gearbox is probably £1000+. The torque convertor can be rusty coloured as it is exposed at the bottom. That is no problem, as uniquely one can easily drain this of old fluid. The arrangement is brilliantly simple. See Haynes manual. I suggest drain and change the filter. It is cheap and can only help. Universal joint could be the problem but this will be a knocking noise (is therer play in it) rather than metalic grinding.

 

[MERCSTAR]

Hi, Can You Let Me Know How You Changed Transmission Fluid/filter
I Have A 230e 1992 Auto. Thanks.