Transmission Specialist

[Servicepoint]

I’ve noticed that my w123 is not moving into D or R from park as smoothly as it should. I’ve been told it probably needs the vacuum modulator adjusted.
Has anyone had any experience of Mackie Transmissions in Glasgow? Would I be better going to Merparts, Mackie would certainly be more convenient being in Glasgow.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Questions for whoever you approach.

I’d ask them do they have a genuine Mercedes Star/Xentry diagnostic system.
Other ‘generic’ systems do not interrogate the systems far enough to always get a reliable diagnosis, nor maybe have access to the latest software updates.

Have they much successful experience of this particular gearbox.

How many miles has it done, and has it had ATF changes done?
How long ago?
How does the current ATF look & smell?
Is the fluid level correct.
Any leaks underneath?

what is the actual problem, (a) difficult to move lever? (b) thumps into gear? (c) long delay in gear changing when selector moved?

once moving are the changes smooth?

all these may help someone give you a steer on what possible causes are.

hope it’s an easy fix

 

[Servicepoint]

Questions for whoever you approach.

I’d ask them do they have a genuine Mercedes Star/Xentry diagnostic system.
Other ‘generic’ systems do not interrogate the systems far enough to always get a reliable diagnosis, nor maybe have access to the latest software updates.

Have they much successful experience of this particular gearbox.

How many miles has it done, and has it had ATF changes done?
How long ago?
How does the current ATF look & smell?
Is the fluid level correct.
Any leaks underneath?

what is the actual problem, (a) difficult to move lever? (b) thumps into gear? (c) long delay in gear changing when selector moved?

once moving are the changes smooth?

all these may help someone give you a steer on what possible causes are.

hope it’s an easy fix

1984 230ce
The car has covered 76000 miles or there about.
The ATF was changed before I got the car by W123 World and looks/smells very clean. It was probably changed early last year/about 400 miles ago.
I got the car up to temp and checked the level and thought it was a small amount high so removed some and it now looks spot on.
No leaks underneath.

When the car is up to temp moving to D or R from the Park position is a bit of a thump in, otherwise it moves up and down through the ratios smoothly.
W 123 World said it was more than lightly the modulator needing adjusted and Mackie though similar, they advise to take the vacuum hose off the modulator when running to make sure it was creating a vacuum. I did this and its is.

 

[Flyinspanner]

That’s great info hopefully someone. With that gearbox will come up with targeted info for you.
rgds.

 

[ray_hennig]

I’ve noticed that my w123 is not moving into D or R from park as smoothly as it should. I’ve been told it probably needs the vacuum modulator adjusted.
Has anyone had any experience of Mackie Transmissions in Glasgow? Would I be better going to Merparts, Mackie would certainly be more convenient being in Glasgow.

Mackie Transmissions is probably the best choice for most MB gearboxes. They rebuilt mine at 417k Km and all's well.

They won't need any Mercedes Star/Xentry diagnostic system for the box in a 123. It's a hydraulic box with no electronics.

So, no problem, off the Mackie, yes?

Good luck.

RayH

 

[Servicepoint]

Mackie Transmissions is probably the best choice for most MB gearboxes. They rebuilt mine at 417k Km and all's well.

They won't need any Mercedes Star/Xentry diagnostic system for the box in a 123. It's a hydraulic box with no electronics.

So, no problem, off the Mackie, yes?

Good luck.

RayH

Excellent
Thank you for this information, I’ll feel better booking it in there now.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I had a factory tour of the Mackie facility a few years ago, they were working on several 722.xxx early 3 and 4 speed boxes. They do extremely comprehensive work there. Can't compare to Merparts though as I have no experience of them but know they are well regarded.

 

[Bellow]

Has anyone had any experience of Mackie Transmissions in Glasgow?

Heard nothing but good about them.

 

[Servicepoint]

Thanks for the positive replies. The car is booked in for 1st week in May.
Mackie were very helpful on the phone and even offered a few things to check in case it was something obvious I could sort myself which I always think is a good sign
I’ll report back in May hopefully with a smooth auto box.

 

[Servicepoint]

Update.

Car back from Mackie today, they had the car yesterday morning first thing and to be honest I got the impression they were too busy to properly do anything with the car. The said they found a slight leak on the vacuum hose at the top and made adjustment to the modulator. The car is now worse than it went in. There is a now very noticeable metallic clinking noise in reverse and the car jolts into reverse or drive probably more severe than before. I never noticed this until I arrived home and went to put the car in the garage as they had reversed the car into position for me to collect. I think I'll need to get the diff checked, front and rear prop couplings, engine mounts etc.
I'm hoping its not a diff rebuild.

 

[Servicepoint]

Update
I located the cause of the metallic clanging noise and cured. It was the fitting on the fuel line crossing over the rear diff, loosened it off and repositioned so at least that’s solved.

 

[ray_hennig]

The car is now worse than it went in.

That's bad news. Time to return and lay down the law.

R

 

[Bellow]

Update.

Car back from Mackie today, they had the car yesterday morning first thing and to be honest I got the impression they were too busy to properly do anything with the car. The said they found a slight leak on the vacuum hose at the top and made adjustment to the modulator. The car is now worse than it went in. There is a now very noticeable metallic clinking noise in reverse and the car jolts into reverse or drive probably more severe than before. I never noticed this until I arrived home and went to put the car in the garage as they had reversed the car into position for me to collect. I think I'll need to get the diff checked, front and rear prop couplings, engine mounts etc.
I'm hoping its not a diff rebuild.

Talk to Mackies again, make them aware of the problem. I'll be surprised if they do anything other than take it back in for rectification.

 

[Servicepoint]

Talk to Mackies again, make them aware of the problem. I'll be surprised if they do anything other than take it back in for rectification.

I probably should but having given them the car at 8am on Monday morning so they had it first thing and warmed up as they advised to then being told they wouldn’t be looking at it until that afternoon until it was cooled down, to them not not bothering to actually look at it until Tuesday at 11am, I’ve kind of lost faith in them.
I’ll probably book it into Merparts, I should have probably had it in there in the first place has it not been for the distance.
I got the impression rightly or wrongly that it’s quantity over quality with Mackies.

 

[Bellow]

That's the first bad I've heard about Mackies but you were there on the day and that's what you found. They'll lose their good rep faster than they'll regain it if not careful.

 

[Tuercas viejas]

I probably should but having given them the car at 8am on Monday morning so they had it first thing and warmed up as they advised to then being told they wouldn’t be looking at it until that afternoon until it was cooled down, to them not not bothering to actually look at it until Tuesday at 11am, I’ve kind of lost faith in them.
I’ll probably book it into Merparts, I should have probably had it in there in the first place has it not been for the distance.
I got the impression rightly or wrongly that it’s quantity over quality with Mackies.

Patience please.
I would be doing the same thing,!
The fluid temp can get very hot & can scald techs. It has to cool FIRST before wrenching.
Its all down to 'elf & safety or OSHA on this side plus technical reasons added to the mix !

I had the same with a Jeep customer only the other day who had a hissy fit because we allowed (needed) the transmission to cool after road test & diag', while waiting for a hoist to come free !
As I told him there can be "no microwave repairs" with this stuff !

You know its sad upon refection !
We live in an impatient world (whirled ) where there is over expectations with everything especially in the auto repair business, BUT it doesn't end there !
In the health delivery business it often worse!!
My eldest daughter a pediatric surgeon, got a punch in the moosh & a black eye from a parent because the med team took two hours longer with a heart transplant on a 10 year old girl . Rolled out into the ICU the parents were expecting the kid to be running out like an athlete FFS !. (They came unglued and had to be escorted out of the hospital by security.)
Just as in my business, my daughter just shrugs her shoulders ,and says "hazards of the job" .
I am sure the shop will come through for you, just have patience.
Tuercas Viejas

 

[Servicepoint]

Patience please.
I would be doing the same thing,!
The fluid temp can get very hot & can scald techs. It has to cool FIRST before wrenching.
Its all down to 'elf & safety or OSHA on this side plus technical reasons added to the mix !

I had the same with a Jeep customer only the other day who had a hissy fit because we allowed (needed) the transmission to cool after road test & diag', while waiting for a hoist to come free !
As I told him there can be "no microwave repairs" with this stuff !

You know its sad upon refection !
We live in an impatient world (whirled ) where there is over expectations with everything especially in the auto repair business, BUT it doesn't end there !
In the health delivery business it often worse!!
My eldest daughter a pediatric surgeon, got a punch in the moosh & a black eye from a parent because the med team took two hours longer with a heart transplant on a 10 year old girl . Rolled out into the ICU the parents were expecting the kid to be running out like an athlete FFS !. (They came unglued and had to be escorted out of the hospital by security.)
Just as in my business, my daughter just shrugs her shoulders ,and says "hazards of the job" .
I am sure the shop will come through for you, just have patience.
Tuercas Viejas

I understand that but they specifically instructed me to have it on first thing in the morning 8am so that they would have it warm. They never dropped the transmission pan either it was only the modulator they were adjusting and for that it needs to be up to temperature.

 

[ray_hennig]

I understand that but they specifically instructed me to have it on first thing in the morning 8am so that they would have it warm. They never dropped the transmission pan either it was only the modulator they were adjusting and for that it needs to be up to temperature.

Don't give up with them. They said they'd fix it and they haven't. That's bad.

Escalate your complaint up the hierarchy until you get satisfaction.

There was a minor leak on mine when it came back and the £120 seal replacement was covered by Mackie after careful explanation.

Don't lose your cool and do start putting things in writing (email).

And keep us posted as we and others need to know.

And if things don't resolve, send them a link to this thread.

RayH

 

[bob6600]

I can understand you losing faith but everyone can make a mistake or things can be unintentionally get overlooked. If they are at fault, give them a chance to rectify it. If they fob you off, that's another story and you can then choose to pursue or tell others of your experience.

Mackies have a decent reputation, I'm sure they don't want to lose it. I have only read about one other negative review on another forum for a different brand but there were lots of good ones.

 

[Tuercas viejas]

I understand that but they specifically instructed me to have it on first thing in the morning 8am so that they would have it warm. They never dropped the transmission pan either it was only the modulator they were adjusting and for that it needs to be up to temperature.

Its not always necessary to drop the pan as you put it.
There are specific steps you take , one is the modulator adjustment & vacuum supply inspection.
The other is to look at the governor control system which might be sticky with gums disturbed or flushed loose by servicing. That means road tests!
For that maybe including a sometimes secret remedy!
Like a quick thrash around the block at 30 MPH away from the customer gaze and anxiety, and then you shove the bloody thing into reverse a few times to blast the galleries clear & the system internals go into a mechanical "Lahlah land" . Often works as an instant fix.
Of course it was a standard operating test after rebuilds on Borg Warner transmissions in 1970's Jags @100 mph on Gaydon aerodrome & shove it in reverse.
(lovely sound of a Jag 3,8 or 4,2 "blaggers" S types on song unforgettable )
Same with the older Landrover/ Range Rover hydraulic series ZF's , Go from D to R at 30 mph, guaranteed to stir its internal phagocytes & clear it out for smooth shifting .

Let them deal with it, and its best fixed with guy who has grey hair thatch, or or hardly any left by it being pulled out by impatient customers and years of fluid anointment in a service pit!
Tuercas viejas