I bought an '87 300D (W124) and had a Mercedes specialist, not dealer, do some preventive work and overdue work, such as flushing all fluids, new brakes, etc. Upon receipt of the car the transmission started to make noises when cold.
In every gear, even neutral, there is an intermittant gurgling/sloshing noise at the gear selector. Also, after the car warms up, 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 slip/flare and shift way early. Even under firm acceleration shifts occur under 2,000 rpm. I checked the transmission fluid level (level ground, warm engine, idling) and noticed the level was above MAX. I took some out (man, what a pain!), no effect. Topped it up to just under MAX.
I also noted that getting into reverse below friezing takes almost 2 seconds.

I am hesitant to bring it back to the 'specialist', since they screwed some more stuff up and I don't want to overfill the transmission.

I don't think the transmission did this when I got the car, but I only drove it for a couple of days and since then with the new injectors and a lot of high speed highway miles the car is a lot more responsive. It could very well be that the transmission was always this bad.

So, the question is:
1) is the transmission overfilled?
2) is the transmission underfilled?
3) did they put in the wrong fluid? (it's dark red and quite viscous)
4) is the transmission going?
5) do I need to look at the K1 Accumulator Spring?

Help!

 

Its unlikely, but not impossible that the transmission was damaged as a result of a fluid, and (I presume) Filter change. Unless the Transmission was grossly undefiled / overfilled, or the wrong transmission fluid was used. It is also possible that the mechanic disturbed a vacuum line while working on your car.

Its much more likely that the cause of the symptoms that you describe are a result of something else. The easy things to check are the following:

- Vacuum lines,
- Bowden Cable Adjustment
- Transmission Modulator Adjustment

You may be better off, bringing your car to a transmission specialist experienced with Mercedes transmissions. Depending on what he recommends, you may than want to get a second opinion.


Phil

 

Thanks for the info.
I forgot to mention that the kickdown does not work. Does that change the order of your list?

Thanks,
Bart

 

I did not put the items to check in any specific order, but, yes the kick-down function should be checked as well, both at the switch under the accelerator pedal, and at the kick-down solenoid at the transmission end.


Phil

 

- - Stupidity Update - -
This to let you know I am an idiot. Since the temperatures were rising I put on the airco and was fiddling with the control switches when I noticed the absence of sound when the control was in the OFF position. It seems the airheads that worked on my car and replaced the coolant didn't fill it properly. Now the heater core has air in it. Grmpf!

There was no noise from the transmission. Suffice to say I now need to figure out how to bleed the system.

Thanks for the comments.

PS Do NOT bring your car to Victor Sima in Cranston, RI. They have decades of experience and not a blessed clue.

PPS When checking the fluid level in your automatic transmission, warm the car up by driving it around until the engine temp gage reads over 80, stop the car AND let it idle for at least 2 minutes. If you don't let it idle, you will mistakenly read HIGH. You gotta give it time to let the fluid settle. Live and learn.

 

i was wondering about the sound too.

the only thing that can create it from the transmission was the torque converter.