My coupe was running fine until at a drive through I go to switch it in gear and nothing happens. the check engine light did come on.the dealer says there is evidence of glycol in the trans fluid and that I will need to replace the radiator, trans & converter. I don't see how this could be possible this quickly. Would it be possible to just drain the fluid put fresh fluid in along with an external trans cooler and everything be fine? any advive would be appreciated. Also is there fluid Ican get that doesn't come from the dealer for the transmission?

 

Zoftiness

Hate to worry you, but you need to have a lookat the problems and solution I had under the CLK forum, try thelinkbelow or look under '2002 CLK Transmission Problems'

https://mercedesforum.com/m_74426/tm.htm

 

thanks Gazz,

That was helpful. I really want to strangle a few executives over at MB now. I'm going to try and save it before shelling out all that money. Any ideas as to how to flush the tranny after the fluid is drained? I'm gonna try the external trans cooler and a flush and hopefully that will buy me some time.

Zo

 

Zo

Unfortunatley I'm not that technically minded.

I was told by my dealer that only a replacement rad, torque converter and tranny would solve the problem.

I get the impression that even though things can be flushed out and partially replaced, the problem will return.

Gaz

 

Wasn't that problem taken care of during a recall? I'd look it up cuz I remember seeing something pertaining to that and a recall was issued. Might be worth your while to check it out!

 

mrgaf

According to MB UK they have 'only had a couple of instances of this occuring and considering the number of units sold, does not warrant a design change or recall' and that 'Glycol contamination of the gearbox is not recognised by the manufacturers as a design fault'

Stumped !!!

Gaz

 

Let me get this straight. They let a possible hazordous contaminent into the transmission and then say that it is your problem because they didn't screw up enough of them. Nice. There is a machine that some shops have that hooks up to to one of the transmission lines at the radiator. It just uses fresh fluid to push out all of the old. The company is called BG. We have like three of them at my job but I'm in Texas.

 

Hmmmm Well I do remember somthing about it due to a faulty "valeo (or something like that) radiator. Seems to me if he bought in the car during the warranty period and it was never diagnosed then suddenly "discovered" in 5 minutes then there must be some legal recourse IF he retained all the documentation of his service visits (never trust the dealer to retain them; they will mysteriously disappear). Here in Hawaii they will literally hang a dealer that does this sort of thing. That's the reason our MB dealer changed hands, it was part of the settlement for shady business practices. Make a call the MB America and ask them why they switched to a new radiator manufacturer after your models year..... won't hurt to try.

 

Moetan

You've hit the nail on the head, that is basically what they've done.

Gaz