E270 cdi auto - looses drive completely

[lali]

Hi, I recently bought a E270 cdi auto (early 2003 model) which has turned out to be a bad decision (purchased via a private sale).

Soon after buying realised that the car would vibrate/judder at times when accelarating, took it to a local independent mechanic who suggested that its the common radiator-glycol-atf problem (have seen many threads on this since).
So had radiator changed and atf replaced (but did not get torque converted replaced). Car seemed better for a few days, but then started to notice judder again especially significant when accelerating in fifth gear. A further few days and the car has now lost drive altogether. When totally cold there is some life in reverse and drive, but after driving a few hundred yards car looses power altogether (i.e once it warms up). In fact I can then try putting it in drive or reverse and it feels as though the gears arnt engaging at all, if I manually move the gear lever via the tip function shows no change on the gear selected display.
Engine revs fine in park and neutral but doesnt rev much past idle when in drive or reverse.

Also, I made an ATF 'dipstick' using curtain wire following one of the posts on here, and I think the ATF oil level is probably about 3 cm above the max mark
when car is hot.

Any advice, suggestions, comments would be much appreciated.

P.S. I'm in Reading, Berkshire - any recommendation of a trustworthy specialist would also be useful.

Thanks.

 

[BlackC55]

It does sound like you have too much ATF in your box so the first thing is to correct the level.

What ATF did he use? Gen MB stuff?

 

[Dieselman]

Is it though. If the gearbox isn't selecting all the gears there will be too much ATF sitting in the sump as it won't be circulating round the various valves.

The selection of D and R are mechanical, the other gears are electronic.
As the selector isn't displaying changes I'd be inclined to think it's an electronic problem, but the lack of all movement is odd.

It COULD be the verter which has failed to transmit drive but again unlikely.

Get the codes read.

 

[lali]

It does sound like you have too much ATF in your box so the first thing is to correct the level.

What ATF did he use? Gen MB stuff?

Yes the ATF used was from MB. I took out about 1 liter of ATF via sump but unfortunatley no change in behaviour.

Will take it to get codes checked later in the week.

 

[lali]

Just a quick update - Took the car to independent mechanic who diagnosed that the converter needed replacing. Have had this done now (reconditioned converter) and car drives well.

Thanks for your responses.