Replaced transmission fluid today - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #1 04-26-2006, 10:51 PM

Gave up on the AC leak for today!!
You never really know, but the old fluid actually looked very good. Excellent in fact. But I bought the wagon a year ago, and you just never know.
I also had to replace the two short flexible lines right at the radiator, which was my major leak of the car. Also, I started off by going to spray wash and spending 75 cents on cleaning off underneath the car. Recommended.....
Took almost 3 hours, but I'm an obsessive cleaner and tend to piddle around when doing things. The pan was spotless. Completely. One thing different on this wagon than the '80 wagon: you could spin the torque converter with a screw driver on the '80, but NOT the '85. I used somebody's advice: Socket on crank pulley with ratchet pointing down. Right foot on left front tire, right hand (both hands sometimes) on ratchet, and eyeballs on torque converter looking for drain plug. Works perfect! The T.C. draining makes quite the mess, as it "glugs" the whole time. I love the MB gaskets, and let me say one thing. The gasket for the six bolt pans is 100% easier to place and stay than the 4 pan bolt trannies. It's a gasket like the valve cover.
Went with a Mann filter, 2/3 bottle of TransEx, and Mobil 1. 6 quarts and it appears to be about 1/2 qt low, but it's all I had for now.
Not at all hard to do, and can be done much faster than I did it today. I was just killin time and enjoying the day.

SD Blue · #2 04-26-2006, 11:11 PM

The only thing I have run into on this transmission is that I've had a tough time with the pan gasket leaking. It seems I have to retorque the pan bolts every so often.

Maybe I need to put a dab of loctite on the bolts.

Austin85 · #3 04-27-2006, 01:32 AM

I did mine last month . The old fluid looked OK but the old filter was nasty inside.

Did you check iside your old filter???

AA

#4 04-27-2006, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Blue

The only thing I have run into on this transmission is that I've had a tough time with the pan gasket leaking. It seems I have to retorque the pan bolts every so often.

Maybe I need to put a dab of loctite on the bolts.

torque the pan bolts to 7Nm and it should never come loose, split the gasket or leak

pawoSD · #5 04-27-2006, 02:26 AM

I torque them by feel and they haven't leaked yet.

I do it as tight as I can get it by holding the "shaft" of the wratchet and extension, plus pinky finger on the handle of the wratchet. Works perfectly.

I'll be doing this job on our '83 friday afternoon, but I get to use a brand new pan/gasket/filter. Pan because the last shop we had do it about 1.2 years ago bent the drivers side rear corner of the pan, and left the bolt off!

and it has slowly but steadily began leaking more and more since then, (it didn't for a while at first) So we needed a new pan $84

Also, the bolt from the dealer which was $6

good thing we stopped giving ANY work to the guy.

dannym · #6 04-27-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Went with a Mann filter, 2/3 bottle of TransEx, and Mobil 1. 6 quarts and it appears to be about 1/2 qt low, but it's all I had for now.

Is that good to add the transEx to new fluid?
I thought you were supposed to add it then drive for a hundred miles or so then drain it out.
What does it say on the container?

Danny

SD Blue · #7 04-27-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carson356

torque the pan bolts to 7Nm and it should never come loose, split the gasket or leak

Oh contrare!

As I mentioned, "I re-torqued the bolts" to 7Nm. For some reason, I notice leaking and find them loose again.

It's those nasty gremlins that sneak into my driveway at night and loosen them up. They have even started to increase a couple of the oil leaks.

ConnClark · #8 04-27-2006, 11:01 AM

All this talk of leaks reminded me of a problem I have.

Does anybody know of a good way to remove transmission fluid stains off asphault? I have scrubbed with purple power cleaner for three days with no luck. I'm beginning to suspect that the transmission fluid ate the outer layer of tar off leaving a dark spot.

Pete Burton · #9 04-27-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Blue

The only thing I have run into on this transmission is that I've had a tough time with the pan gasket leaking. It seems I have to retorque the pan bolts every so often.

Maybe I need to put a dab of loctite on the bolts.

Try holding the pan up against the transmission without the gasket. If you can slip a matchbook cover between, it's warped. Bend it back to be straight. Often, the area around the bolt holes is dished out.

pawoSD · #10 04-27-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConnClark

All this talk of leaks reminded me of a problem I have.

Does anybody know of a good way to remove transmission fluid stains off asphault? I have scrubbed with purple power cleaner for three days with no luck. I'm beginning to suspect that the transmission fluid ate the outer layer of tar off leaving a dark spot.

I've had good luck on our concrete driveway blasting stains with brake cleaner....then rubbing it with a shop towel...gets it off pretty good. Not sure if that'd work on asphalt though....

JimmyL · #11 04-29-2006, 01:06 AM

Got allot done this week, but fixing the AC (the main objective) didn't work out.
I changed the tranny fluid and filter, changed the diff fluid. BTW, both the tranny fluid and diff fluid looked really fresh, which is another thing that makes me think this car was well taken care of for a large portion of its life.
I finally adjusted the valves last night. Every last one of them was way tight, but alas, my engine runs no smoother.

However, I replaced and adjusted my rack dampner pin prior to this, so maybe it will adjust out now....
I know it is hard to look at a chain and tell it's age, but that chain looked like brand new stainless steel! It actually shined. Using the cam tower marks, and lining it up a couple of times, at best it is 0 degrees of stretch, at worse it is 2 degrees! I'll take either one.
Since I have an OCD that favors over-cleaning, I also completely cleaned up all my linkages on top of valve cover, and cleaned up valve cover and polished with Mother's Mag. I did this on the smoker also, and it really makes the valve cover look nice. (should I admit I cleaned the inside of valve cover too? never mind.....)
And to top the week off, I also changed the plugs and wires on my '79 Chevy PU (had since new), and got a free replacement battery for it at Sears, as last one died in 11 months. Now if I could just find it's water leak behind dash.....
Didn't do anything to the Camaro, other than getting truck parts off of it's hood (which is covered and padded, btw)
An excellent week of vacation, spent in and around the garage in a state of piddling.......

pawoSD · #12 04-29-2006, 02:42 AM

I changed the tranny fluid and filter (and pan

) on our '83 today, also changed the tranny mount, and attempted the motor mounts, but for some reason they weren't going to cooperate like the ones on my car did last year, The passenger side hex bolt spun out (the one you get at from underneath through the crossmember). So we'll probably be turning it over to the stealer next week to do the mounts and figure out why its vibrating so much at idle, it makes no sense.

The tranny showed marked improvement with the synthetic fluid, smoother shifts, engages a bit quicker and quieter, and overall sound levels have decreased. Perfect!

No leaks either, bone dry with the new pan/gasket. So today was a 2/3 success for me....

Our dealer is really good with these cars so hopefully they can solve the super rough idle issue....