Vito Clutch/gearbox

[beelag]

Hi can anyone help an MB novice with some info.
1st MB bought a year ago as a MotoX van, 97 vito 108D, 127k in above avg condition. Synchro on 3rd was slighly crunchy on downshift if change was rushed too much but ok if given a mo to change, all other gears ok.
Now 141k on clock and have suddenly developed what appears to be a clutch and or gbox fault.
Clutch pedal occasionally goes very light following a gear change and all gear changes now are crunchy as if the clutch is dragging, 3rd being especially bad.
Strangly enough 1st and reverse from standstill are ok to engage, if this had been bad as well I would have said that the clutch was worn and not clearing as is common on transits (sorry to mention them on this board, i will wash my mouth out) and there is no clutch slip in any gear or at any engine speed.
Is this symtomatic of MB clutch problems or have I got an odd fault and/or maybe gearbox problems as well.
How easy is it to change the clutch on the Vito. We have moderate skills and equipment but have not worked on these before. Any special tools reqd other than the friction plate centring mandrill and any useful tips on the job.
grateful for any advice.
Billy

 

[beelag]

I forgot to add to my post that we bled the hydraulics using a pressure kit attached to the resevoir cap aperture and no air bubbles came from the slave bleeder.
I read in our manual that if you dont have the correct pressure bleeder then attach a bleeder hose from the front brake caliper bleeder to the clutch slave bleeder and use the brake pedal to pressure back bleed the fluid from the brake caliper via the bleeding tube to the slave bleeder back up to the resevoir.
As our pressure bleeder kit is designed to screw onto the resevoir cap and pressurise down to the slave cylinder is there any problem with me using this method or does it work just as effectively on the MB system?
Billy

 

[BlackC55]

Using a regular pressure bleeder is ok.

Sounds like you have a clutch problem.

Removal is straight forward. (one of my first ever jobs on a MB)

There is a bar that has to be removed from the subframe to allow acess. The mounts tend to stick on too, so be careful.

BTW the box is HEAVY.

 

[beelag]

Thanks for the info and tips BlackC55, will give the clutch a go.
Billy

 

[shahid]

im having the same problem beelag did you find out what it was mate.cannot put in 3rd without hearing a crunch noise the rset are o.k

 

[beelag]

In our case it was the clutch not clearing properly that was causing all the gears to crunch. Even with the clutch now ok 3rd gear is still a bit crunchy (as it always was) if you rush the change but this is due to worn synchromesh. It is still quite drivable and silent changes can be made by slightly pausing between the change from 2nd to 3rd on upshifts and double de-clutching and blipping the throttle on 4th to 3rd downshifts so that you even up the speed between the 2 gear wheels before they mesh. As long as you are not bashing them in and grinding the gear wheels it won't do the box any harm if you can put up with the inconvenience.
Also do a check on the gearbox oil, in fact it is best to renew it as it is only a couple of litres and make sure it is not overfilled as this can cause the main and countershafts to drag round with one another.

 

[ljonny18]

Hi - an interesting post for me to read as I am experiencing the same problems How much would it cost to replace the clutch ???


Taken from a previous post:

I have a 2001 Vito 112, and recently it (I) sometimes have difficulties getting it into gear.

The car has a manual box, and the problem seems to exist manly with 3rd gear, and when changing down into third from fourth....

Only sometimes (most of the time it is ok) when changing down it feels as if the gear is not fully engaged, and the gear lever is not forward enough (although stopped in position) ... and when either the clutch is released or the lever is let go ... the box grinds until the lever is pushed back fully into gear :S

The car has always had a "notchy" and not very friendly box (as I have read re many vitos on forums) but has never shown this sort of behavior until now.

I am not sure if this is related.. but I had a problem with one of the linkages a few months back where are gummi (rubber) seal was missing from the lever linkage where it mates onto another linkage that is connected to the gearbox... I had to buy a complete new linkage arm from Mercedes as I could not buy the rubber separately, and had this arm fitted. I dont think that this is related as it has been find since it was fitted until now - I just thought I would mention it.

I have done a bit of reading around, and have found lots of possible causes - some being the linkages, and other (more drastic) being the box itself...

Has anyone else had a similar problem with a Vito??? or anyone know what could be causing this issue and if it is easily fixed or will it be a v-expensive problem ???

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers,
Jon.