torque converter replacement

[Malcolm Johnson]

good afternoon all, can anybody point me in the right direction.
my torque converter on my 2002 s320cdi is on it's way out
could someone recommend a company that reconditions
your part or does a swap service.
and secondly what sort of cost's are we looking at !!!!!
cheers

 

[stumpy]

Whereabouts are you? I've just had my g/box and T/C done at Hardy engineering in Leatherhead. The T/C was £250. They had a 220 S class in when I was there.

 

[Autofix]

I do a lot of Merc trans problems and based on my own experience of rebuilt TC's I would suggest you go for a new one. Make sure whoever fits it has access to a Star to do the adaptions afterwards. The star can also be handy to prove the TC is the fault as it can turn the TC lockup off for test purposes.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

just out of interest why are you concluding your torque converter has gone????

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

replies to questions

Gentlemen, Thanks for your replies
I'll answer all three questions

i live in east Yorkshire, stumpy

Autofix is there one particular reason for going for a new converter ?.

and finally I'm convinced it is my TC as we have a independent which opened near me last summer who are two ex Mercedes technicians (30 years of Mercedes experience between them) who set up on there own
with the good will from Mercedes as they only will fit Mercedes parts on service. (£50 a hour)
they plugged it into the computer took it out, did the lockup bit, vibration went and noise went. when cold the vibration and drone is not so great but when the temperature rises it becomes very uncomfortable, as i've been informed the lockup only comes into play when warm. the other
usual symptoms are starting to come into play, light revs and gradient, we get vibration and drone throughout the car and now this week a consistent
underlying vibe coming from the gearbox into the body of the car.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

Gentlemen, Thanks for your replies
I'll answer all three questions

i live in east Yorkshire, stumpy

Autofix is there one particular reason for going for a new converter ?.

and finally I'm convinced it is my TC as we have a independent which opened near me last summer who are two ex Mercedes technicians (30 years of Mercedes experience between them) who set up on there own
with the good will from Mercedes as they only will fit Mercedes parts on service. (£50 a hour)
they plugged it into the computer took it out, did the lockup bit, vibration went and noise went. when cold the vibration and drone is not so great but when the temperature rises it becomes very uncomfortable, as i've been informed the lockup only comes into play when warm. the other
usual symptoms are starting to come into play, light revs and gradient, we get vibration and drone throughout the car and now this week a consistent
underlying vibe coming from the gearbox into the body of the car.

not 100% whether your car was affected but certain models of radiator have failed causing coolant to mix in your gearbox oil, have a sample of oil glycol tested, this will confirm either way,
the coolant in your gearbox will cause these symptoms if that is the fault in yours, id get this checked because if your rad is faulty and you just replace the tc the fault will soon return, thus costing you a great deal more,

if you do have this problem then not only will you need a tc but id also recommend a rad, and full rebuild too,

regards mb tech

 

[Autofix]

Gentlemen, Thanks for your replies
I'll answer all three questions

i live in east Yorkshire, stumpy

Autofix is there one particular reason for going for a new converter ?.

and finally I'm convinced it is my TC as we have a independent which opened near me last summer who are two ex Mercedes technicians (30 years of Mercedes experience between them) who set up on there own
with the good will from Mercedes as they only will fit Mercedes parts on service. (£50 a hour)
they plugged it into the computer took it out, did the lockup bit, vibration went and noise went. when cold the vibration and drone is not so great but when the temperature rises it becomes very uncomfortable, as i've been informed the lockup only comes into play when warm. the other
usual symptoms are starting to come into play, light revs and gradient, we get vibration and drone throughout the car and now this week a consistent
underlying vibe coming from the gearbox into the body of the car.

The reason is because I have seen many rebuilt TC's faulty.

from what you post the lads who looked at it have done as I suggested should be done and turned off the lock up for test purposes. As far as I am concerned if the symptoms are cured with the lock p off then the fault is 100% in the TC.

 

[stumpy]

not 100% whether your car was affected but certain models of radiator have failed causing coolant to mix in your gearbox oil, have a sample of oil glycol tested, this will confirm either way,
the coolant in your gearbox will cause these symptoms if that is the fault in yours, id get this checked because if your rad is faulty and you just replace the tc the fault will soon return, thus costing you a great deal more,

if you do have this problem then not only will you need a tc but id also recommend a rad, and full rebuild too,

regards mb tech

The S Class I saw was a pre facelift model and indeed had oil contamination.

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

Gents, An update.
I’ve decided to go for a reconditioned TC from JPAT Engineering.
They specialise in Torque converters recons and transmissions since 1975.
And I have had recommendations of there work.
Oh yes and the price £238 versus £982 (MB) for new, kind of swung it for
Me. As I’m working near Bristol at the moment picked it up today.
So it will be fitted on Friday.
The chaps are going to fit it for £373 including vat, they are going to replace all the gearbox oil and do an 8 litre flush as well. (Filter replaced recently). £ 611 including oil & flush inclusive of Vat.
with reference to the lock up, with it switched off no problems at all,
when on it judders on acceleration, constant vibration and makes a drone
when low revs in a high gear.
strange this "S" has 85,000 on it and Failed, my last "S" had 190,000 and not a sign of a problem. luck of the Draw!!!.

cheers

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Oil and flush seems a bit pricey.

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

RE: price comment
The price would be high, but as they are going to drop my gearbox, remove my old
Converter and put my new recon converter in and refit my gearbox
And also replace 11 litres of gearbox oil and Flush with another 8 litres.
i suspect there is quite a lot of hours in the gearbox job.
And 19 litres of fluid isn’t cheap, so £317.5 (£373 including vat) I can’t
See as expensive, as these guys are ex Merc and instil a level of confidence.
When I have a bill in my possession for a filter change
And 3 litres of oil for £193 including vat from Leeds Mercedes.
Cheers

 

[BlackC55]

Aftermarket TC's are generally crap. The gearchanges etc after fitting are never as good as the real thing.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

Aftermarket TC's are generally crap. The gearchanges etc after fitting are never as good as the real thing.

i would have to agree, only on my experience, yours maybe fine though,,

 

[AnthUK]

Have you had recon TC fitted yet. I am about to go down same route as you using JPAT so interested to know results..

 

[Lordjellybelly]

I`ve been reading this thread with interest. A couple of months ago my W124 cab ground to a halt with real grind. Apparently the gearbox gasket had blown and the fluid had drained out. T.C. was shot as was the gearbox. I had a new T.C.and the g`box was re-conditioned by a London engineering firm for £1500 +VAT. Previously I had no complaints about the apparent smoothness and operation of the box but now it`s so..........much smoother and quieter and the changes are virtually imperceptible. A very good result but it cost me. Was I overcharged?

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

I`ve been reading this thread with interest. A couple of months ago my W124 cab ground to a halt with real grind. Apparently the gearbox gasket had blown and the fluid had drained out. T.C. was shot as was the gearbox. I had a new T.C.and the g`box was re-conditioned by a London engineering firm for £1500 +VAT. Previously I had no complaints about the apparent smoothness and operation of the box but now it`s so..........much smoother and quieter and the changes are virtually imperceptible. A very good result but it cost me. Was I overcharged?

nope, seems an average fair price for new tc and fully reconditioned box, some slightly more than your price, ive averaged the price at various garages at about £1800 +vat

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

RE: price comment
The price would be high, but as they are going to drop my gearbox, remove my old
Converter and put my new recon converter in and refit my gearbox
And also replace 11 litres of gearbox oil and Flush with another 8 litres.
i suspect there is quite a lot of hours in the gearbox job.
And 19 litres of fluid isn’t cheap, so £317.5 (£373 including vat) I can’t
See as expensive, as these guys are ex Merc and instil a level of confidence.
When I have a bill in my possession for a filter change
And 3 litres of oil for £193 including vat from Leeds Mercedes.
Cheers

how did your repair go malcolm???????

 

[stumpy]

I`ve been reading this thread with interest. A couple of months ago my W124 cab ground to a halt with real grind. Apparently the gearbox gasket had blown and the fluid had drained out. T.C. was shot as was the gearbox. I had a new T.C.and the g`box was re-conditioned by a London engineering firm for £1500 +VAT. Previously I had no complaints about the apparent smoothness and operation of the box but now it`s so..........much smoother and quieter and the changes are virtually imperceptible. A very good result but it cost me. Was I overcharged?

1650 inc vat for my W124 4 sp box and new TC.

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

final comment

torque converter fitted friday. very smooth indeed racked up 200miles over the weekend, another 220 on for tommorrow.
The noise has gone, the vibration has gone,and the gear change is smooth.
having visited JPAT as i was in the south west last week to pick up the TC. very impressed,very informative staff.
so we have it, in my case £238 versus £987 from Mb.
i made my choice and so far so good.

PS: my old unit rattled like a box of matches when i shook it in my hands, i posted it back (£14.20).

 

[AnthUK]

Thanks for the update. Looks like its Jpat for me then!