1999 E300D code P0715
 

My wife drives this car and she stated that when she put the shifter into drive or reverse nothing would happen, she then restarted the car and the transmission performed normally, this happened twice today and once a few days ago.

I reset the code with my OBDII but I suspect that the transmission will have to be scanned for codes using something else

As I understand it this could be a sign of a defective conductor plate but I figure it’s better to properly diagnose it than to shoot from the hip and just throw parts at it

Anyone else every experience this with a 1999 E300D?

Getting the specific code description goes a long way towards diagnosis as many codes offer specific info as to what test to perform.

If the 722.6 goes into limp mode then the only way to get it out of limp is a MB type scanner to reset the transmission.

Sorry dieselbenz, it did not go into limp mode, I misunderstood the events and have since revised my statement

Have to scan it with SDS to know for sure, but it sounds like a problem with the shift module. Has any liquids been spilled into it recently?

Limp on these transmissions is full line pressure, 2nd gear ( reverse will work also ). This will be the case even if all electrical is lost to the transmission.

You need to look up what the code is and not randomly replace parts.

When the driver states , " put the shifter into drive or reverse nothing would happen "

Nothing as in:

Car won't move / engine won't rev

Car won't move / engine revs freely

Car won't move / engine strains when gas is pressed ( like brake is on )

97 SL320, The engine revs but there is no response from the transmission, as if it were placed in neutral.

Check for ATF in the TCM, drop the pan and ensure the filter hasn’t fallen out of place.

Since there’s a CEL, you have to clear those codes.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

I'd be really surprised if the trans computer could neutralize the 722.6 trans even if the computer developed a drastic internal fault. Basically, line pressure would have to go to near zero for neutral in a requested gear to occur or maybe a odd combination of shift valves engaged.

However, I'm hoping someone with more time with these transmissions will look at this thread.

I'm voting for some sort of low fluid / valve body issue.

So, I’m taking it to an Indy to have the codes pulled and a proper diagnosis. If the repair is not extremely difficult I’ll do it myself, if the opposite is true then I’ll let the Indy do it.

I also have a E320 CDI and I’m starting to grow tired of paying for code reading and simple diagnostics.

Is there a fairly reasonable diagnostic scanner that I can purchase that I can use on both my 1999 E300D and my 2005 E320 CDI?

Any recommendations?

Unfortunately there is really only one game in town for the W210 diesels. That is the HHT or a Star/Xentry clone computer. The W210 was designed at the inception of OBDII and it has a seriously hobbled implementation. Basically the bare minimum to meet the requirements of the day which was power train codes related to emissions. The various electronic modules in the car are connected by dedicated serial data lines to the 38 pin connector in the main relay/fuse box on the drivers side. I don’t know of any diagnostic computer on the market other than a cloned multiplexer and laptop running Xentry that can talk over this port.

The W211 has a better OBDII implementation and there are many third party scanners (iCarSoft, Snap On, Autel, etc) that are capable of pulling codes and doing rudimentary setting changes.

Of course the multiplexer and Xentry can do anything the dealer can, with one exception. The cloned Xentry computers cannot be placed on the internet under any circumstances. If the servers at Bosch find the cloned computer it will issue a kill order and shut it down permanently. Keeping the computer isolated prevents this from happening. I have one of these and I have the Ethernet port and Wi-Fi disabled in the BIOS and have removed the drivers for these devices from Windows so there is no chance this computer can see the internet even by accident.

There are certain maneuvers, called SCN coding, that are used to initialize new modules, particularly the core function modules for the power train. It requires a handshake back to Germany to properly initialize these modules. Cloned Xentry cannot do this. You can go into Version Coding and make settings changes (for example, if you want the dash display in km instead of miles, or you add the iPod adapter to the stereo). But you cannot update the VGS (transmission conductor plate on a 722.9) that has an integrated controller.

Back to your car.
Your 2005 E320 CDI has the same family 722.6 transmission as your 1999 E300. These have an external transmission controller. Inside the transmission is a conductor plate, that holds speed and temperature sensors, and several solenoid valves.

The controller gets the data from the speed sensors, and combined with inputs from the power train controller, command the various valves in combination to engage and disengage the bands, clutches, and torque converter lockup.

There is a significant amount of diagnostic data in the transmission controller that cannot be extracted from the 1999 E300 implementation without Xentry or HHT. There are a multitude of fault codes in the system that get boiled down to a handful of generic fault codes (P07xx) that can be read out of the OBDII port.

As a fairly new owner of a 1998 e300TD I look forward to hearing what you find out on your transmission. I hope it’s nothing serious. Everything I know about this particular car has been learned here on the forums by generous folks willing to share their knowledge.
I am floored by the lack of paper manuals and the specialized equipment required for this car. Although this is a wonderful car and I have no current issues, this makes me think about selling and looking for an older, simpler model. A model I can actually get a repair manual for. Sorry, just venting and scared that I might have to take it to the dealer somed day.
Anyhow, I wish I could be of some help.

These are really great cars and easy to work on. Search on eBay for "Xentry" or "Star Diagonsis", you should be able to locate a setup with a Dell D830 laptop, a multiplexer, and cables for about $6-700. This will give you the diagnostic system needed to troubleshoot anything electronic on the car, as well as the complete set of WIS (repair manuals), EPC (exploded parts diagrams), and Star Finder (wiring diagrams and part locator with photos).

I bought mine from a seller called "gordysgadgets" and have had great success with it.

x2 After living with a 722.6, I can’t imagine going back to a 4-speed. Thankfully my 3 722.6s, 2 bought with bum transmissions, haven’t needed SDS since being sorted (clean and dry TCM, replace pilot bushing, clear codes). EGR and cat faults can be cleared through OBD.

Agreed. Gordy’s kits run out of the box. Some cheaper kits require setup I could never accomplish. I haven’t seen gordy on eBay in a while. Is he back or does he have another store?

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

Ha I say the same thing about my 7-speed 722.9 equipped cars. When I had to drive my son's E300D back to Clemson I forgot how high that thing revs on the highway (ca. 2500/min for 70 mph) and how loud it was (even with all the skirts and covers on).

The OM642/722.9 combo runs at about 1800/min at 70 mph and is practically silent on the highway.