great! auto box problems w202 c180

[miketokley]

Am in the process of looking for a c43, and was going to sell the c180 soon, just my luck..........

was on the way to work today, all was fine filled up with petrol, left the garage 1....2...........3rd?
slowed down just sat in 2nd no matter if i stopped put it in park and then into d again would only have 2nd.

turned it off and on again 1....2nd then thats it.

any ideas guys?

 

[Shude]

Something similar happened to me, likely you are leaking ATF.

 

[nickcc101]

Have you checked the oil level. Some good examples of home made dipsticks on this forum.

 

[miketokley]

Have you checked the oil level. Some good examples of home made dipsticks on this forum.

right been doing my rearch and found the dipstick on http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=43803&page=4&highlight=dipstick
i was just wondering if it is the right one for my gearbox?, the car is a 1996 c180 esprit. if its right i will make one and check it tonight.

many thanks

 

[television]

Its the one left side at the rear of engine, and you do have a dip stick

Early cars had a 722.421 and later cars 722.603

 

[miketokley]

Its the one left side at the rear of engine, and you do have a dip stick

Early cars had a 722.421 and later cars 722.603

hmm found the red cap, made a horrible cracking sound taking it off but no dipstick?

 

[television]

hmm found the red cap, made a horrible cracking sound taking it off but no dipstick?

Has someone taken the dip stick and put a sealer cap on???,, the dip sticks were taken away in 1999 you buy a new cap for a few pence fro MB..

 

[Will]

I think on the W202 the dipsticks were taken away well before 1999, on my 1997 C230 Kompressor (with 5-speed 722.6 box), that didn't come with a dipstick either.

Mike - does your car have a 4 or 5 speed gearbox?

Will

 

[BlackC55]

There is no dipstick on your car.

 

[television]

The taking away of the dip sticks on most cars coincided with the removal of the torque converter drain plug.

I have never heard of the 4 speed box not having a dip stick

The removal of drain plugs on the torque converter took place on 22-09-99

Ther is nothing in the technical section about the removing of the dip stick. Oh well we live and learn

 

[GRAV888]

The taking away of the dip sticks on most cars coincided with the removal of the torque converter drain plug.

I have never heard of the 4 speed box not having a dip stick

The removal of drain plugs on the torque converter took place on 22-09-99

Ther is nothing in the technical section about the removing of the dip stick. Oh well we live and learn

My old 1996 W202 C180 never had a dipstick either. Just a sealing cap.

 

[television]

My old 1996 W202 C180 never had a dipstick either. Just a sealing cap.

Thank you for that, the 210's and 129's and many others certainly did have one, I am amazed that I had not picked up on this before, but at least I know now.

 

[nickcc101]

On my 2001 C180 with the 7226 box there is a smell red locking peg that holds the black diptube cover in place. You can buy the new locking peg from Inchcape for a few pence so i presume that they would also sell the cover if you need one. The proper workshop dipstick is a lot longer than is required (to suit differing lengths of diptube) and has a lip near the end that prevents it going too far into the box and ensuring that the reading is correct.

 

[jamesmc]

My local MB shop in Faro would sell me the locking peg and cap, but not the dipstick. How stupid is that?? Anyway I had a source at MB in Holland that posted a dipstick to me in Portugal FOC. Nice eh?

Good luck with checking your ATF check.. I hope it's just a tad low and topping it up to the correct level gets you all gears again.

 

[miketokley]

I think on the W202 the dipsticks were taken away well before 1999, on my 1997 C230 Kompressor (with 5-speed 722.6 box), that didn't come with a dipstick either.

Mike - does your car have a 4 or 5 speed gearbox?

Will

the box is a five speed one, is there a place i can look at the box to find out the model?

 

[television]

the box is a five speed one, is there a place i can look at the box to find out the model?

You do not need to look, it will be a 722,6

 

[Will]

Yep, it'll be a 722.6.

You have to buy a dipstick as a Workshop tool from MB, or make up something similar at home.

Only use the correct MB specification fluid for the box, not regular Dexron stuff.

FWIW, I'd get the level checked first, also worth checking for leaks - there is a known issue with an electro-hydraulic connector that seeps oil up the gearbox wiring harness.

If you've got a minute, it's worth checking. I found traces of oil under the passenger side footwell carpet in my old W202!

Will

 

[nickcc101]

You can buy the correct workshop dipstick off ebay from a USA seller for app £19, the MB oil can be bought from Inchcape for app £10 per litre. The home made dipstick should be just as good though as long as you follow the instructions on this Forum.