Thump in the back and Brown ATF

[5907]

My current W124 seems to have a horrible Auto box; the changes are quite harsh and when it's cold the upchanges feel like I've been shunted by a lorry.

It never fails to change though, and there's no flaring or slipping.

137k miles on the clock, and I had a look at the transmission dipstick and the ATF can only be described as light brown in colour, similar to engine oil.

Would a fluid / filter change make any difference? The same 4-speed Auto box on my much higher mileage (210k) 300TE was a joy, and the ATF on that was much more red in colour.

 

[meanie]

What model 124?
A g/box service may help,or there could be a fault with the modulator valve or vacuum piping to it.

 

[5907]

What model 124?
A g/box service may help,or there could be a fault with the modulator valve or vacuum piping to it.

'95 E280 estate, 4-speed Auto

Sometimes it's fairly smooth, but it seems to lack the overall refinement of my last one, despite being younger and having done a lot less miles.

 

[nickcc101]

Brown ATF can indicate that the fluid has burnt. Change the oil and filter first before laying out on expensive repairs. Fluid can burn when the brake bands slip.

 

[kth286]

That's correct - fluid should present two qualities:

1. bright red

2 not smell burnt

As meanie stated, good vacuum is essential for those smooth imperceptible changes

 

[5907]

There is no burnt smell; I guess it has just never been changed.

 

[television]

Lousy hard changes on a 124 are nearly always a vacuum pipe off, the modulator valve is vacuum controlled

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...M=717.433&CT=GA&cat=09C&SID=27&SGR=195&SGN=09