Slipping trans and a long way from home! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Fredmburgess · #1 04-17-2003, 08:44 PM

Greetings all,

I'm 1300 miles into a business trip - '84 300Dturbo just rolled over 388,000, has been running great the whole trip. Lots of high speed interstate driving... However, I noticed a little flare as it shifted into top gear this morning. This afternoon as I accelerated down the on ramp top gear slipped, then kept on slipping - it's essentially useless.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, all pull fine, shifts are fine. Fluid level is between the marks although fluid is looking burnt (of course). No doubt time for a rebuilt, but I'm 400 miles from home (ah, but that's the fun in it!)

So, I'm thinking about limping home in the slow lane with the four ways on. I can run 50 - 55 mph between 3500 & 4,000 rpm...spinning pretty fast but.....

1. Any ideas on why only this gear is shot?
2. Any ideas on how to get it to lock up.
3. Could this be anything other than hydraulic/internal problem? All vacuum operated systems are working fine and as I said shift quality is good otherwise.

Hey, anyone can drive a new car...where's the fun in that?!

Thanks for any suggestions.

Fred

Fredmburgess · #2 04-17-2003, 08:46 PM

Oh yeah, I'm currently in Albany, NY and have to get back to Lancaster, PA...just in case someone around here has a spare trans and lots of time on their hands... or maybe knows a good shop in the area!
fmb

ricali · #3 04-17-2003, 08:53 PM

Fred

Why don't you just stay off the thruway and run #209 ? down the Delware water gap nice ride little traffic.

kerry · #4 04-17-2003, 09:17 PM

I assume you've tried manually shifting it to see if that works.

JimSmith · #5 04-17-2003, 09:31 PM

Fredmburgess,

My father in law uses a guy in Schenectady by the name of Dennis Francis Auto at 24 Sacandaga Road, (518) 374-6531. He has done good work at a reasonable price on my (daughter's) 1982 240D. I am conceding I will never get it back in running order as she is determined to run it until it can't be fixed. She also knows another group of College kids that work on W123 Diesels in the area too. Good Luck, Jim

leathermang · #6 04-17-2003, 09:39 PM

syphon 2 quarts of trans fluid out and put in 2 qts of Trans-X... if the problem is caused by a build up of varnish from the trans fluid this may fix the problem... at $20 it is worth a try..... it has worked for me many times over 30 years.... good luck,,,,

Fredmburgess · #7 04-18-2003, 01:44 AM

Thanks all!

Yep, shifts fine manually and in Drive through first 3 gears (but top gear still slips). I'll definitely change out the fluid as soon as I drop my customer at the airport and lose the stupid suit and tie

I have no doubt we'll get home...this car has been absolutely flying all week...just happy as could be at 80-85mph with 3 people and a trunk full of stuff...not bad for nearly 400,000 ...so I won't hold a failing trans against it. Was thinking about going to a VW TDI...but have decided to fix the trans, maybe clean up the paint, and go for at least 500,000! Just something about that old diesel plugging away and the turbo singing its song...(even if I feed it old cooking oil!)

...I'll let you know how it goes..but to paraphrase a little line I use about motorcycles...."a bad day in this old Benz is better than a good day in any other car"!

Fred

Fredmburgess · #8 04-21-2003, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, all. I also stopped by the local Benz dealer in Albany and we agreed best course of action was to put the gear lever in "S" instead of "D" and drive it home with 3 gears. I also took the back roads (including 209 through the Delaware Water Gap) and had nice ride even if the RPM's where higher than I would have liked. So, next task is to find a shop to rebuild or put in a rebuilt since I don't have time to mess with it at the moment.

...oh yeah, had most of the Benz dealer's mechanics out looking at the WVO conversion...had to keep them focused on the trans problem! f

rwthomas1 · #9 04-21-2003, 09:50 PM

Trans-X! Trans-X! Trans-X! If it doesn't work then you still need a rebuild. God bless ya for bucking the trends, not driving an SUV and having the "testicular fortitude" to still rely on an old girl like her to get you around for business. RT

Aaron · #10 04-21-2003, 11:40 PM

Fred,

Wow! 388K miles! I remember talking to you about buying your car last year and you were rather hesitant to sell it! It really is pretty looking, the 904 navy blue paint over palomino interior. My '83 300SD is still a young one at 252K but I'm hopeful to hit 300K by the end of this year. I figure our California trip will add another 5,000+ easily plus a trip to Texas to visit some relatives which is about 2,000 miles total. Those trips will at least put me around 260K or so. I can probably clock up another 40K by December! If I were you I'd do a search on the web for MZF (formerly Peter Schmid Transmissions). They're out in California and are an authorized ZF rebuilder. Peter no longer is in the works but his head guy Wolfgang runs it and they do fantastic work. They quoted me $1,500 to rebuild my 6.9's tranny versus almost $3,000 from the dealership and that was my wholesale cost! Their warranty is 2 years/unlimited mileage as I remember, which betters MB's warranty on their exchange units. You pull it and send it to them out in California and they'll generally have it back to you in two weeks or less. I'd be interested to see how much more the engine has in it after a fresh tranny goes in!

leathermang · #11 04-21-2003, 11:47 PM

Have you thought about converting to a manual transmission ? If ever there were a time to think about it... it is when the trans needs to come out anyway....

#12 04-22-2003, 07:40 AM

If the transmission shifts into 4th before the fluid
reaches operating temp you can use Lucas Trans
fluid. My 82' 300SD would not go into 4th after
it warmed up and since I made the decision that
the trans was not fixable I did not mind using 3
to 4 quarts to increase viscosity which resulted
getting into 4th even when hot. The stuff is like
90 weight trans fluid, costing $7 quart at Advance
Auto. I got 3k miles more on the trans without
consequence, though it may have worn things
which would have affected the rebuilding of
the unit or a core charge, but that was avoided
when I bought a trans on ebay.

Fredmburgess · #13 04-22-2003, 02:43 PM

Thanks again for the suggestions everyone. Aaron, thanks for the tip on good source for a trans. Just for fun I stopped by my local dealer - a great group of people but they've still got all that overhead to cover.. Estimate to R/R trans with a rebuilt, including the torque converter, was $4400. We all knew that wasn't going to happen.

The car's running great despite the "missing" gear. If I put it in drive it will shift into 4th when it should, but then immediately slips. No big deal, it's going to get another trans and maybe some rust repair near the back wheels. There are a whole lot of miles left in this one!

F

Ridge · #14 04-22-2003, 08:41 PM

Fredmburgess,

Take leathermang's advice and search for "manual transmission conversion" on this forum. I know I've listed all the parts at least twice.

I've done several of them and they've worked out fine and one then has a much more tractable, faster accelerating car. If you're capable of finding your parts the cost would be under $500.00.

Do the research, you'll love the result!!!!!!!!

Ben

#15 04-22-2003, 09:43 PM

I also agree with leathermang! Go for the manual transmission conversion.