Eddie
This sounds like a plan for the first time!
Actually the cause for the sound would be outside the sealed trans?

Do you know of a drawing in order for me to see the components at the front of trans: input shaft with gear and bearing ?
I guess I need to take the trans off the car in order to change any components/bearing there in front?
Martin

Take a look at this exploded view. I will need your personal e-mail to send this PDF file because it is bigger than the forum will allow. It is 2.08 MB and the forum will not allow it. You can send it in a personal message on the forum so it is not available to the general population.

From what I see on the drawing is that everything riding on the forward or input shaft is suspect because it keeps turning while in P or N. I would guess that 229, 240, 241 might be the cause of your noise if they were worn or failed. That might let the forward planet wobble a bit and cause a grinding noise.

That would be my scientific wild a_ _ guess.

As far as doing the work yourself I would say this. If you need the car back in a timely manner send it to a tranny shop. I have a copy of an overhaul manual for this transmission and you would need a number of special tools to do the work. Pullers and snap ring pliers etc......

If you want a copy of the manual contact these guys:

Automatic transmission service group
18639 S.W. 107 Avenue
Miami, FL 33157
(305) 670-4161

Keep posting with your progress,


EddieE.

thanks Eddie, this is great in order to understand a bit of the inside world of the trans. I am all up for experiment and learning...but I'll need to figure out how to do this one. I already have a 300SEL on stand on my driveway. Can't afford another one standing around.
I'll give my trans one shot and use 'sea foam trans' and see if it does something. If it does magic... even for some time..great. if not I'll probably need to buy a reman unit.
Would you buy on ebay? Martin

I sucked out 1 pint ATF out of my trans through the filler pipe with the Mityvac and poured Sea Foam Trans into the transmission this morning. Old ATF is 3 years old, stinks but is not burned.
I'll see and report back if there is any difference.

After the Sea Foam cure I drove for 2 days probably 250 miles with many stops and I had no issue so far with the noise! I can hear now how the trans is shifting back when I am stopping- not sure what this is- may be less lubication? Anyway it sounds like magic but Sea Foam has helped to make go my noise and pain away...for 2 days now. I 'll report back more if something or hopefully nothing is happening.

Just for the record. I drove about 500 miles with Sea Foam in the old ATF- no noise at all.
I changed ATF last weekend including converter and changed filter.
The old ATF was clear- no contamination at all with a little bit if sludge on the surface of the pan- 'looked normal'.
I filled in cheap Dexron III from Autozone and added BG conditioner.
So far everything is fine- no noise. I wanted to go for a longer road trip end of June. I keep my fingers crossed and I can keep you updated.

Hi, I wasn't n the forum for a while.
Sorry for my late answer.
I got a PM from someone with probably the same problem asking what finally was the problem with the sound.
Often we forget to post the final answer or a short summary.
If I remember correctly the problem was a faulty starter/ switch and the sound was the engaged starter! grinding ..starter solenoid did not pull back after the key was released...
I forgot to post that.

Best Martin

Makes sense.

__________________
What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius