major gearbox problem, need advice

[danzo]

hi everyone,

i have only recently bought a 1999 e320 w210 and now i think the gear box has gone

basically first of all my power steering fluid was really low the last few days due to a leak, so i knew i had to get that sorted. and the last few days i had heard a whining noise but i assumed that was to do with the power steering.......

today i have topped up the central hydraulic fluid so steering is fine, but typically the day i do this the car started mucking me around.....

on my way home after work today i realised when pulling away the revs were going up but the car was not moving????

after not being able to get the car going i turned the car off and had a look where id put the new hydraulic fluid but all seemed ok, so tried to get the car going again and all seemed ok.......for 5 mins atleast.

now the whining i was hearing is getting louder and louder and i can only get the car driving for about 10 seconds before again the revs just go up and the car has no power???

i can turn the car off for a minute then start her up again and drive for about ten seconds but then no power again just the revs going up???

is my gearbox buggered????
im thinking it is

what is my first step to find out exactly whats wrong?????

dan

 

[Stratman]

Get it put on a STAR to read the fault codes. A dealer will do it (for a price) or a good independant. Where are you located?

 

[danzo]

i live in sutton, in surrey!

the car is un drivable tho now

i can only drive for 10 seconds before i get no power again, i cant even get it to a garage.

the whining is really bad aswell and the gear box is thumping and banging around like its trying to change gear but it just wont go into gear, i have no power what so ever after 10 seconds, im just revving up as tho im in neutral???

is there nothing i can check myself??

where would the gearbox dip stick be on a w210 e320??

thanks,
dan

 

[Howard]

You a member of the AA or RAC ?

Drive it 10 seconds down the road , and get it recovered to a good local indy.

 

[Stratman]

If you have the five speed box, there isn't a dipstick. You have to buy one and then remove the tamper proof cap (red) from the filler tube to check the level. You will also need to fit a new cap. Thecorrect level is very important on these boxes, and using an incorrect fluid can wreck it.

Mind you, to check the fluid level the 'box needs to be at operaing temperature, difficult if it won't move.

 

[danzo]

i spose i could do that using my mates aa cover!!

so should i get the codes read as the first thing to do then???

nothing i can check myself??

so i need to find somewhere local that can do that so i know where to get it recovered to!

i dont really want to keep trying to drive the car, the whining and thumping/clunking really does sound like im doing some damage trying to drive it like it is at the mo!

 

[danzo]

stratman im unsure what box i have as im new to mercedes.

in manual tiptronic mode it only shows upto 4 gears so im assuming 4gear box??

its a late 1999 face lift model if that helps?

 

[Will]

on my way home after work today i realised when pulling away the revs were going up but the car was not moving????

You sure it's not the icey/snowy roads

Sorry - I couldn't help it

Rotten timing what with Xmas and all of that. I'd go along with Howard's suggestion - get it over to a local specialist indi who can diagnose it properly. If you need a recommendation I am sure we can help.

Where was it bought from? Private sale or a trader?

Not normally one for going after recourse on older cars unless vital, but if you've just got it (from a trader etc) and the gearbox is playing up, it could be worth looking at that angle.

Best of luck and hope that you xmas isn't disrupted too much by this

Will

 

[Stratman]

Completely 'unofficially' and without any recommendations of course, I have heard that some people have used a length of curtain rod to check the level, although I don't know how far up the rod it should reach. Someone may be along later with the information.

Don't be tempted to add some fluid 'just in case'. Overfilling, even by a small amount can cause all sorts of problems and it would be a pity to ruin the box if it is just low fluid.

 

[Stratman]

stratman im unsure what box i have as im new to mercedes.

in manual tiptronic mode it only shows upto 4 gears so im assuming 4gear box??

its a late 1999 face lift model if that helps?

That'll be the five speed. In 'tip' mode it only shows the lower gears. D=5th.

 

[danzo]

i wish i did buy from a trader but no it was private, and only bought it as i thought it was cheap, payed 2 grand for it, but now im realising why it was cheap, the fuka must av known the gearbox was iffy!!

so will every fault with the box show up on a star???

anyone recommend somewhere near sutton surrey???

 

[Howard]

The curtain rod dipstick is now thought to be inaccurate because the MB one doesn't go to the bottom of the sump ...

If you have a dealership nearby , the workshop dipstick part number is W140589152100 and is £33 ..... failing that you could order one from Inchcape , but it wouldn't be here before Christmas.

DIPSTICK ATF - All Models 2006 - On BRABU - Mercedes-Benz Parts, Inchcape

It wasn't a dark blue one for sale in Hounslow was it ? grey leather interior ?

 

[danzo]

im proberly best to get it to a garage before ordering a dip atick.

howard, no def not a dark blue one from hounslow, got it from a guy i used to work with from horsham, only had it 3 weeks, i cant beleave all this is happening, i have such bad luck with cars, spose i need to get it on a star and see what the codes come back as.......

 

[Howard]

If you can get it recovered to Richmond , Colin Ferns is good.

Mercedes in Richmond - Used Mercedes - Service - Command SatNav Retrofits

I only asked because i went with my mate to look at a 99 320 in Hounslow for £2k , and it just didn't seem right.

 

[danzo]

richmond might be a little too far for me i think.

i have a few mates in the motor trade that might be able to help me out, better make a few calls tomorrow.

so will this diagnostic machine be called a star whichever garage??

is that a special kind of diagnostics??

sorry if that seems a stupid question, just i have no idea about diagnostics etc....

 

[harveymoo]

yes its the mercedes diagnostic program and it will tell ever fault that has occured since last it was connected to one (star machine) even down too if a window button has been held down too long

 

[dannyd1110]

Gearbox problems with my auto CLK 230 Kompressor 1997 R plate elegance

Hi Guys,

I am new to the site and really hope someone can help me I have a 98 R plate W208 CLK230 kompressor.

Yesterday I was stuck in the snow and reversed the car and switched to drive a couple of times to rock the car out of the snow cavity!

After 4-5 attempts I heard a slight clunk and the gear selector froze, after a bit of force I managed to get it in virtually every gear apart from Park, the car stalled and although it says that it is in drive or whatever we were able to push the car back to its parking space!

After several attempts I am still getting nothing from the gearbox when it is in D, N, R (apart from rev lights). The Key is stuck in the Ignition too!

Is the gearbox knacked or a selector or something simple? Any Ideas Guys?

PS the Gearbox didn't seem to make any strange noises or anything beforehand. Nor have I ever had any issues with the car??

It has done 120k and has virtually a fmbsh? Any help would be imensly appreciated as I do not want to buy a new box if it is easily remedied?

Thanks, Dan one p'd off MB owner LOL

 

[danzo]

i took the car out today to see if a night of cooling down might have helped my problems........but clearly this wasnt the case.

the car was stuck in 1st gear and would not move up a gear...... this allowed me to drive a mile very slowly before the existing problems came back again, car lost power again so had to turn the engine off and restart, again, again and again

after only having this car 3weeks i have no faith in this cars gearbox what so ever so..... i have decided to break the car for parts!!!!

the engine, body work and all electrics are in good working order and i also have a set of near mint amg wheels with 4 very good tyres so if anyone wants any parts from a late 1999 facelift w210 E320 estate please let me know, you can ring or tex me on 07882791164, dan.

 

[stevesey]

After several attempts I am still getting nothing from the gearbox when it is in D, N, R (apart from rev lights). The Key is stuck in the Ignition too!

Best to start a separate thread (but could just be a selector issue) - n.b. key won't come out unless the selector is in P.

 

[Stratman]

Danzo, don't be so hasty. You have a desireable car (E class estates are very popular) and even if it needs a new gearbox I would say it's worth repairing. Before you take the decision to break it at least have the fault codes read on a STAR.



Mind you, if you do decide to break it you'll have no trouble shifting the wheels and tyres.