Torque converter refurbishment & reprogramming

[Ofpoets]

Possibly looking at getting the torque converter in my 2006 ML320 CDi sport refurbished as I can get it done for a decent price. I have been told it will need to be programmed to the car but I thought this was the case if the gearbox itself was changed.

I'd have thought changing the TC wouldn't be affected ?

Anyone with any technical knowledge or actual experience of this please ?

Thanks in advance

 

[AndrewOl]

Hi, I’m not sure about the coding issue. I thought the TC was purely mechanical. The TCU does need coding but that’s a different thing altogether. Just out of interest what fault do you have with the TC?

 

[Ofpoets]

Hi AndrewOI and thanks for replying

Have actually had a natter with Mercedes themselves as I'd forgotten I had to pick up a part. Apparently it doesn't need programming however you need a Star machine in order to 'teach' the TC and it's internals their position in order for it to work correctly. So much for me changing the TC out then !

The car has a 'shudder' at certain speeds like going over a cattle grid. Seems quite common. I'm going to try a fluid change first and put a shudder fix additive to see if that improves things. It's likely a short term fix but hopefully will buy me enough time to afford a refurbished TC and install. Normally I'd have done this myself but since it requires a specialist device it's probably a bit beyond me.

 

[Pwheeldon]

Hi, I have a similar issue I think with my 2006 vito, it feels like its struggling to get up hills and ther is a sort of drone / shudder. The shudderis only slight though and if i drop down a gear its fine. I was thinking i may need to get the TC changed. Have you done the oil change? If so did it resolve the isssue? I have checked my oil level and it seems fine, so i am thinking i will change the oil filter and see if that helps.

 

[Ofpoets]

Hi. Well I did a gearbox oil & filter change about a week ago now and put in some Lubegard Platinum. The oil that came out was very black and the difference in how it drives is really good. Not 100% perfect but significantly better. I took mine to a Mercedes specialist (not main dealer) and the guy that did the change said he'd put the Lubegard in his car and after 500 miles cured the shudder completely. I've only done 200 miles since but day on day it does feel better. It's obviously not a permanent fix but at the moment it's certainly been worthwhile doing.