ML270 Auto gearbox trouble!!!

mrfuzzyfelts

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Ive read loads about this

I have a problem of my ML270 locking into safe mode / gear....

Its when its hot and im going UP a hill?

Any ideas?

I had the oil and filter changed about 6 months ago at Mercedes.

Where is the dip stick for the oil level?

MANY THANKS
 

psmart

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Sorry to hear about it, it is a common problem, hopefully its not your heat exchanger leaking.

Firstly, there is no dipstick. Look to the back of the engine, left side you will see a red cap, this pulls off and a specially bought (from Merc) dipstick goes in. Go back to the indie/dealer who changed the oil and get them to dip it, because it could be short on oil (a small leak occurs on the electric connector on these boxes).

It could simply be the MAF (air flow sensor), but can you describe more about the issue? Often getting codes read is needed to see if the autobox has logged a code (sometimes, from my experience, it didnt)!
 
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mrfuzzyfelts

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Firstly thanks for your time in replying. :D

Basically, its getting worst.

It seams to only happen on Hot days (May just be a coincidence....!)

It only seams to happen up hill (May again just be a coincidence....!)

It locks into "Drive" and in a certain gear, it wont change down like it should and i cant manually change it down.

Stop engine, restart and drives perfect.

Ive only had the car a week and yesterday it done it twice, i know it done it once with the last owner about 6 weeks ago (my dad) again on a hot day and going up hill....

He had the oil and filter changed as after reading the internet it seamed the first solution.
 

Cosworth

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I used to own a ML270 before and one of the things that can cause this problem is a week battery that can effect the voltage.
Once I changed the battery it neve locked in gear.

Its also advisable to have the electric plate changed inside the gearbox.
Check the plug on the gear as it can send oil up to the ecu.

If the gearbox keeps locking up it means its not happy :( and eventually it will be permanently locked and only a computer can unlock.

A friend of mine has a 53 reg ML270 and I told him to get it serviced before there are problems. His ML runs perfect but yet dirty oil came out and also tiny metal particals came out when drained:shock:
 
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mrfuzzyfelts

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I could try the battery, thats easy enough

any more info about the "electric plate changed" ?

Ta
 

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Simple things first, as per Cosworth, a) check the battery voltage, b) Get under the car, engine to gearbox interface on drivers side up near the top of the auto box is an electrical connector, look to see if oil is leaking (if it is, then your box could be low on oil, but also the oil can work its way into the controller and make it go faulty), c) Get the codes read (if nothing regarding the gearbox), then d) Change the MAF.

If the plates are faulty (basically the Valve body springs or the plate), then you should get a code, but if you have water in the box, then you will get the same codes (I know, 2 boxes later)! If the above doesnt help, pop it into a Gearbox specialist to be sure. The box uses a water to oil heat exchanger to cool the box and the last box that was installed in the ML270 the specialist changed it to an air cooled radiator for cooling the box!
 

panason1c

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The box uses a water to oil heat exchanger to cool the box and the last box that was installed in the ML270 the specialist changed it to an air cooled radiator for cooling the box!

Hi, Just a query on the above...............my 2002 ML has a transmission oil cooler radiator located just in front of the engine radiator which is air cooled and is a standard fitting............ where is the water to oil heat exchanger as you describe above located?.......and why are there two tranny oil coolers?............or were later ML's fitted with only the front air cooled rad like mine?

I'm curious because i had to replace my transmission and whilst doing the job i had to disconnect the two oil cooler pipes and i noted that they simply form a circuit from the box, through the air cooled oil cooler and back to the box.......there seems to be no link to any water/oil heat exchanger so i'm interested how can coolant enter the box?

Or, as i said, is this relevant to earlier pre-facelift ML's?
 
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psmart

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Hi, Just a query on the above...............my 2002 ML has a transmission oil cooler radiator located just in front of the engine radiator which is air cooled and is a standard fitting............ where is the water to oil heat exchanger as you describe above located?.......and why are there two tranny oil coolers?............or were later ML's fitted with only the front air cooled rad like mine?

I'm curious because i had to replace my transmission and whilst doing the job i had to disconnect the two oil cooler pipes and i noted that they simply form a circuit from the box, through the air cooled oil cooler and back to the box.......there seems to be no link to any water/oil heat exchanger so i'm interested how can coolant enter the box?

Or, as i said, is this relevant to earlier pre-facelift ML's?
The Specialist, Martin Lowe in Barnsley said that later models had been suitably modified. Kevin (kebo57) posted a picture sometime back, the heat exchanger was on the engine, below the inlet manifold. Could be that earlier boxes couldnt push the oil the full distance, or just a design hiccup.
 
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mrfuzzyfelts

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My problem has now gone from baf to worst!!!

Since this thread it has done it 2-3 more times........ A simple STOP , RESTART and its back to normal!

HOWEVER today it has now got ALOT WORST

The car is now STUCK in 2nd, restarting WILL NOT cure it!

Now that it is stuck in gear and you move the from P to Drive or N to drive or vice versa it will jerk like it's not going into gearsmoothly.

Then just lock into 2nd i think.....

Anymore ideas now guys as the car is now unusable :(
 

rpe2

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Get it plugged into a diagnostic computer/ star. I am confident that a fault code will be stored along the lines of 'Y3 speed sensor implausible'.

Solution, electroplate in gearbox. About £250-£400 to replace depending on loaction/ garage etc..

Until you have any fault codes read, you will never be sure.. However given that my old W210 had exactly the same fault as yours, I'd go for the electroplate.
 

kebo57

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My problem has now gone from baf to worst!!!

Since this thread it has done it 2-3 more times........ A simple STOP , RESTART and its back to normal!

HOWEVER today it has now got ALOT WORST

The car is now STUCK in 2nd, restarting WILL NOT cure it!

Now that it is stuck in gear and you move the from P to Drive or N to drive or vice versa it will jerk like it's not going into gearsmoothly.

Then just lock into 2nd i think.....

Anymore ideas now guys as the car is now unusable :(

Hi first idea is you need to get you motor type and your rough location in your signiture so I dont need to go looking for it.:)
Is you box an auto if so then it sound like the speed sensors in the box need replacing my ML did this & I got it fixed for £300.00 but that was in Blackburn, Lancs but I could be wrong.

Kevin
 
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mrfuzzyfelts

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Cheers,

Signature changed! :)

Im going to get the fault codes read then,..

Is there anyway to reset the LIMP mode so i can drive it to the garage?

Save arranging for the car to be towed away to there
 

rpe2

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Only way is to find a chap or chapess to come to you with plug-in computer. It will only be a temporary fix, and may not work at all..
 

kebo57

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Cheers,

Signature changed! :)

Im going to get the fault codes read then,..

Is there anyway to reset the LIMP mode so i can drive it to the garage?

Save arranging for the car to be towed away to there
Hi I drove my ML for about 50 miles over about 2 days, never managed to get it out of limp mode, it was doing about 30 mph at 2500 rpm coasting down hill in neutral then back in to drive, shouldn't be a problem traveling to your garage pm me if you need the phone No of the guy that sorted my ml out
Here is a link to the thread of a similar type of fault including pics of the part to be changed http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=46442

Kevin
 
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mrfuzzyfelts

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Hopefully im now a step further to finding out my problem....

I went under the car today and removed the large plastic tray.......

It was wet with oil,

on inspecting it appears to be coming from the lower part of the bellhousing!

So im gussing my problem before was as the oil was slightly low, now the oil is very low it is locked into gear!

maybe im wrong?

I have no ideal where the oil is coming from? main drive seal or something?

any ideas?

Thanks in advance! :)
 

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Is it engine oil or transmission fluid,could you can tell best, seen by looking at a drip forming
 


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