ML 270 GEAR BOX please help

Mercmick

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WHAT HAVE I DONE !!!
Convinced the wife we needed a 03 plate Merc 270 and now realised its not a 4x4 its a moneybox.

Following last months disaters costing 1200 pound ( i wont go into deatails to long and complicated )

This week.....
car starting well, when reversing car out of drive way a real need to rev engine to get car rolling.....told wife it was cold and normal.....now car seems to be stuck in one gear when in drive, possibly 3rd I can not change gear by knocking the gearstick across it just stays in drive mode.

last month following 4 days in Mercedes garage they alerted me to a oil leak in the gear box.....never had one before it went in as drive way is clean without oil.....in the last 4 weeks i have a oil patch 400mm x 400mm on drive way

i bought this car 8 weeks ago and feel really disapointed

please let me know what you guys think
thank mick :(
 

television

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The fluid has probably all run out through the pilot bush plug,,there is a mod for this and it is cheap and easy to install


Welcome to the forum
 
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Mercmick

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reply to Malcolm

Malcolm, I so wish you were my next door neighbour,

I am not sure if this is good news or bad news...

The problem of not selecting any gear was last night, the car drove really smoothly no knocking no grinding, as i said it just would not change gear and seemed to pull away in what you would describe as 3rd if you were in a manual car.

This morning i have been underneath the car and removed the protection plate the oil which has been leaking is no higher up the sump pan than the gasket, on the drivers side front there is a sensor with a yellow locking twist cap, there is a small amount of oil in that area.
I have tried to remove it and clean it but it does not want to come out and i am reluctant to pull it too hard.

I have clean every area and its shineing like a new pin.
Following a road test the car is running PERFECT (at ther moment)

i agree the oil must be low, as alot of it is on my drive and as much again along the roads i have travelle

Malcolm , A Question or two.

What do you think i need to do now.
What oil do i need to buy,
should i change all the oil for new or just top up.
Where do i put this oil there does not appear to be a obvious entrance.

What kit did you suggest i get and what would it do.

This is my first day on this site but feel it wont be the last.......I wish i had seen this site before i bought the car...........

awaiting your reply in antisipation

Mick
 

rich.g.williams

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do not despair

sounds like you simply have an oil leak from connector (pilot bush) or gasket - no reason to think you have anything worse wrong

you will need to:-

1. fix leak
2. top up transmission fluid
3. test to see if fault has gone

malcolm can direct you to various forum threads
 
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Mercmick

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How do I check the transmission fluid level on my 270ML ....I cant find a dip stick or even a hole to poke somthing in.

this morning the car was running, but was cold and I can olny describe as juddering

thanks
Mick
 

rich.g.williams

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Suggest you have a look at these threads:-

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=47482

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=25566

Also use the search function to find out more about the "pilot bush" dip stick" fluid etc etc. If there is no dip stick tube you will have to fit one I think??

I think yours is a 722.6 auto transmission

If the pilot bush (the connector where wiring goes into the auto transmission) is leaking it may be causing electrical problems too.

The way you describe sounds like enough fluid has been lost to cause problems described.

The "pilot bush" is just a rubber component that seals the connector.

PS just find and rectify leak, top up fliud and test.
 

Dunvale

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01 ML 270cdi (w163), 94 E200 (w124)
Hi Mick,
Sorry for your troubles, but get used to them whilst owning one of these.
You Can't check the transmission oil on an ML very easily. They do not come with dipsticks for the transmission. You need two things if you want to check level. You need a dipstick first of all which most main dealers will not sell you as it is regarded as a mercedes technicians tool. But you can get these off ebay and the like. The second article is a little sealer plug/pin which has to be replaced EVERYTIME you check the transmission level! They are a use once only type of thing and are located at the opening of the filler neck. Can be bought for a pound or two at your local dealers.
So as you can see nothing is easy with these ML's. By the way, yes..I'm afraid you've bought probably the worst ever vehicle mercedes have ever engineered! welcome to the club.
I see you have read my thread on my gearbox overhaul. But dont despair. I dont think you have a problem as serious as I had. Sounds to me more like you have got an electrical problem. (Well I Hope you do).
Its confusing that it went into Limp mode just reversing out the drive from cold. One thing that you will have to do is get it on diagnostics. I didn't believe much in diagnostics before but they really do tell alot about what might have happened in the event of a problem occuring. Read my thread again and pay attention to KEBO's posts. He mentioned about an electrical board in the gearbox and the wiring loom up the side which certainly do cause trouble and can cause the symptoms that you are describing. However I had all these replaced during my gearbox overhaul and only the other day it went into limp mode on the way home.HA HA I'm goin mad!..well, not yet.
Could we have more info on the vehicle please? What milage is on it, what was its history before you bought it, has it had any other work done in the past while, check service history.
I fell into the same trap as you by buying one of these things. I hope to god you dont have the same trouble as me. I'd say Ladas are put together better:D
 

television

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Sorry that I forgot to come back on this one,,but you have been very well looked after
 

kebo57

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ml270
You need a dipstick first of all which most main dealers will not sell you
I have the part number for the dipstick you can get one delivered to you door Inchcape Mercedes-Benz-Parts

The second article is a little sealer plug/pin which has to be replaced EVERYTIME you check the transmission level!
You don't need to replace the red thingy either just snap the top off and push it out the bottom of the cap about half an inch with something pointed then pull the cap off then pull it out then refit the cap and push the red tab back in the from the top same thing next time you remove.

Kevin
 
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Mercmick

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DUNVALE. you know how to cheer up a man in distress.................

I forgot to mention I live in the South of France so popping into the local MB gagrage and having a chat with a technician does not happen here.

OK.....I put the car this morning into my local garage (He is a German specialist) and appears to have all the gear including a diagnostic machine,

And excuse my description, a very long dip stick.

He told me 2hrs, on my return he had topped up the transmission by 2lts and done a test drive.

he did explain that the pilot bush was always a issue with the Merc 270 and said if it continued to leak he would change it, cost was about 95 Euros

to carry out a complete filter change as you guys explained above and I have seen on links, would be 500, euros.

any way car is running well, a new piece of carboard is laying under the car awaiting the first signs of leaking oil......

Following above comments (DUNVALE) and other problems I have read on this site with Mercs It could very soon be FOR SALE.

03 Plate every option, silver, black leather
living in south of France......I will even pay your air fare to Nice airport

Thank you to all who have created a great site to of load your to often problems.

looking for a LADA.
Mick
 

television

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500 euros to do a £160 job here at the max,,,Think that I will stay in the UK
 

rich.g.williams

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mick,

suggest get the pilot bush (and the gasket) changed

don't think you need to worry about the filter change (as long as there are no other problems showing up)

enjoy the sun!
 
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television

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2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
mick,

suggest get the pilot bush (and the gasket) changed

don't think you need to worry about the filter change (as long as there are no other problems showing up)

enjoy the sun!

This is a simple DIY and I can send him the instructions they do not cost much
 
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Mercmick

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Morning.
BAD NEWS
my new piece of cardboard is NOT so new this morning......with a nice puddle of transmission oil on it,

GOOD NEWS,
following 2 lts being put in yesterday approximately only lost 60ml the car drove really well this morning, reversed out od drive selected gear really quickly, and NO Juddering.

TELEVISION, KEBO, RICH.G DUNVALE and any body i have missed

Thank you
 

Dunvale

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Hi again Mick,
Sorry for being so negative in my previous posts, I have become somewhat of a grump when it comes to discussing the ML. You should count yourself lucky that its just a leak. This is not bad news at all considering the reputation of an ML gearbox, as problems go with these, this would be a best case scenareo! A cheap and easy fix, oil was obviously leaking out and causing it to go into safe mode. I would get the seal done on the pilot bush and it would be no harm at this stage to change the oil and filter, the gearbox is the life of these machines afterall. €500 is an outrageous price for a filter change alone. Its a simple job that could be done on the front drive at home and if you have a hoist its childs play.

truthfindergeneral,
I know how you feel!!
 


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