W210 Transmission

230TErry

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Sorry for starting a new thread on this but I'm in a bit of a jam.

Yesterday my 2001 E320 CDI started loosing gears. It dropped from top gear down to first and when I stopped at traffic lights I had no drive at all. If I turn off the ignition and wait a few seconds I get drive back but it goes again within a few minutes.

I get the "rumble strip" effect before it starts to loose drive. It also works fine until the engine warms up.

Rang my indie guy and he said it need a valve body cost of parts alone £1000!!!! I only paid £1400 for the car.

I've had the car six months and apart from a leaking injector it has been great.
 

Steve@Avantgarde

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I've had this in 210's before and I will bet its a split drum actually inside the box. Gives all the signs of a valve body fault but its not. Drain the fluid out, if its as black as the ace of spades then the box is knackered.
 
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230TErry

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I've had this in 210's before and I will bet its a split drum actually inside the box. Gives all the signs of a valve body fault but its not. Drain the fluid out, if its as black as the ace of spades then the box is knackered.

Thanks, but that's not what I wanted to hear.
 

toby1

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I've had this in 210's before and I will bet its a split drum actually inside the box. Gives all the signs of a valve body fault but its not. Drain the fluid out, if its as black as the ace of spades then the box is knackered.

What's the drum, Steve?
 
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230TErry

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Steve, is it worth doing a filter and fluid change? I can get a second hand gearbox, is this a possible DIY swap?

I've it booked in on Monday to have a diagnostic as a start.
 

rapide

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that box is full of clutches in drums do as steve says, dump the oil first if its black its done for! dont waste your money on diagnostics at first it will show faults etc but wont tell you that the box is stuffed! an oil check will!
 
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230TErry

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that box is full of clutches in drums do as steve says, dump the oil first if its black its done for! dont waste your money on diagnostics at first it will show faults etc but wont tell you that the box is stuffed! an oil check will!

Oil slick on my drive this morning, I've got a leak. Got new filter, gasket, fluid so will find the leak tomorrow and do an oil change.

I had an old scimitar GTE auto that did the same as the 320 and that was cured by fixing the leak and doing an oil change.

If I need a new box the car is going to broken for parts.
 

WG M-B

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Oil slick on my drive this morning, I've got a leak. Got new filter, gasket, fluid so will find the leak tomorrow and do an oil change.

I had an old scimitar GTE auto that did the same as the 320 and that was cured by fixing the leak and doing an oil change.

If I need a new box the car is going to broken for parts.

I would be surprised if a fluid change fixes it
 
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230TErry

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Finally got it sorted : ) Oil and filter change cured the problem but I was left with a fluid leak, fairly drastic! After a lot of messing about and a small fortune on fluid I found that someone in the past had stripped the threads on one of the pan bolts and fitted a helicoil! By using a longer bolt I was able to force past what was left of the helicoil and get to threads further up and hey presto no leak and super smooth gearchange : ) : )
 

nokia

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Well done that man
 

wingz123

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Well done mate, Mercs do respond to gearbox oil changes very well!

What was the oil like that came out? Had it been done before in the last 12 yrs of existence?
 
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230TErry

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The oil was very dirty but not black, more a sort of brown with no burnt smell. I guess it was done in the past as some idiot had stripped the threads for on of the bolts abd fitted the offending helicoil.

Thank goodness Mercedes over engineer things and there were good threads beyond the length of the standard bolt. A longer bolt was able to force past the helicoil and into the good threads.
 
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230TErry

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Well just over a month later I am stuck in limp mode and eventually lose drive altogether!!! : (

Fluid level is fine so any one any suggestions ....... I have checked out second hand transmissions and could get one for about £350. Should I cut my losses and run or change the box.

Any help appreciated ...... oh and the gasket is leaking again and all the bolts are tight.
 

Triv

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For £350 if you can change the box yourself, do it.
If you have to pay someone to do it for you, you'd better work out what the car is worth to you.
It'll cost you more than £350 to change the car, if you break it or flog it with a duff box.

I'd swap the gearbox over, assuming the rest of the car is OK.
 

spenttherent

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Are you sure it's the sump gasket that's leaking ? it could be the pilot bush
 
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230TErry

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For £350 if you can change the box yourself, do it.
If you have to pay someone to do it for you, you'd better work out what the car is worth to you.
It'll cost you more than £350 to change the car, if you break it or flog it with a duff box.

I'd swap the gearbox over, assuming the rest of the car is OK.

Box with 3 month guarantee on the way : ) mates workshop all lined up so hopefully it will arrive friday and I can swap on saturday.
 
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230TErry

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Are you sure it's the sump gasket that's leaking ? it could be the pilot bush

I placed a white board under it and it is dripping out all round. Changed the gasket and fluid this afternoon and as soon as it warms up no drive at all!!! As above box change this weekend.
 

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