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  #1  
Old 03-14-2007, 10:38 AM
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Question NOOB Tranny question

Good Morning:

Total Noob here...I purchased a 1985 300TD a few days ago, cheap, as the guy who sold it had only had it a month or so and thought the tranny was completely shot. No fault of his, I bought it assuming I would probably end up having the transmission replaced/rebuilt.

When I drove it, it was flaring really badly and I basically limped it home in first gear. I took it to one place to do a transmission flush, they machine couldn't pump the fluid out thru the cooler lines. Took it to another place to have the pan dropped, gasket and filter changed, just to see what would happen.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the transmission now shifts all gears, no slipping/flaring that I can tell. It does seem to shift a little hard between 1-2.

Questions are

1) Is it possible that the filter was so contaminated that the transmission just wouldn't shift at all...and would it cause the transmission flushing machine to not be able to pump out the fluid (i.e.- I am going to have the fluid changed again shortly, in a month or two, do I need to have the pan dropped again, or can I assume that they can flush it now?)

2) It is normal at the age of this transmission to have a little hard shifting between 1-2, or do I need to spend as much time as it takes to fix this problem before driving the car regularly?

I am trying to ask these questions as clearly as possible, but this is my first diesel and first mercedes, so I don't know this thing like my own child yet .

TIA for any help.

Reverendxlt

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  #2  
Old 03-14-2007, 10:51 AM
rrgrassi's Avatar
mmmmmm Diesel...
 
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Yes, the filter can plug up enough to halt the flow of fluid. Keep an eye on it.

You are better off dropping the pan each time, as you can then see any potenial problems in the bottom of the pan.

Yes, hard 1-2 shifts are normal.
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91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

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  #3  
Old 03-14-2007, 11:26 AM
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Thanks for the help, now that I think about it, the flush may have been more expensive than dropping the pan (altho, I didn't pay for the flush, since they didn't do it)

Glad to know I am not going to run the tranny into the ground as is. Thanks again,

Reverendxlt
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  #4  
Old 03-14-2007, 11:52 AM
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The 1-2 shifts can be softened a bit by adjusting the vacuum modulator on the transmission (counter clockwise, I think). There's a link with this forum that explains how to do this. I recently adjusted mine and it's a bit softer, but not a lot. I think I read about some other adjustments too, but decided to live with a semi - hard shift.
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  #5  
Old 03-14-2007, 11:55 AM
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I can live with the hard shift as it is now, just didn't want to tear up anything else. Just had to rebuild a tranny on my Ford (Found On Road, Dead) Ranger, didn't want to have to do that if I didn't have to on this car. Thanks,

Reverendxlt
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  #6  
Old 03-14-2007, 11:56 AM
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mmmmmm Diesel...
 
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Personally, I do not like the flush, because you cannot change the filter, and you can't see the sediment that is normally at the bottom of the pan.

The cost for a flush should be way less, since there is not much labor to run a pump.
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70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K
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  #7  
Old 03-14-2007, 12:08 PM
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well, the price I was quote for a flush, using BG flush/conditioner was liek $79.00

The shop I took it to, charged me $59.00 to drop the pan, change filter etc.

I agree its better anyway, so as long as the gasket doesn't spring any leaks due to their negligence, I will probably take it back there for service again.

Reverendxlt
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  #8  
Old 03-14-2007, 12:11 PM
Gene
 
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Location: Buffalo NY
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As a matter of fact hard shifts (within reason) are easier on the clutches in the tranny.

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