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  #1  
Old 10-23-2003, 11:24 AM
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Automatic Transmission Story - 350sdl

I have a friend with a 91 350sdl. It has 209,000 miles. He bought it when it had 190,000. He decided to have the transmission fluid serviced because he did not know how old the fluid was. The dealer told him the fluid looked old (maybe even original) so he had new fluid put in.
The interesting part is that three days later, the transmission died. A new one is being put in at tune of $3000.
The question now is...would the tranny still be alive today if he had kept the original fluid in OR would it have died in three days anyway.
Anyone else out there with similary tranny stories? The original fluid in my 82 240d manual tranny is probably original. At 125,000 miles, I think this story convinced me to just keep the original fluid in there. Any thoughts?

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$500 1982 240d owner "Gunter"
125k miles,4 speed manual
crank windows, MB Tex, all original
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Scorecard so far....
$230 Maaco paint job
$27 dimmer switch, $40 shutoff valve, $45 brake MC, $260 calipers, $40 brake hoses, $40 side fender trim, $20 balancing, $109 lifetime alignment, $10 fuel return lines, $115 oil&fuel filters for next 30k miles
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  #2  
Old 10-23-2003, 11:39 AM
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Location: Canton,Texas
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For starters a manual trans and an automatic aren't the same things at all, I wouldn't hesitate to change the fluid in yours at all, probably a good idea even. His auto was probably on it's way out already, did it have any problems before? I would guess that the new fluid flushed some junk out and that junk clogged something and it fried but the only way to know would be to take it apart and inspect whatever part of it died. And you might not know then. Did the dealer get it filled all the way, change the filter, and stuff like that when they changed it?
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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
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  #3  
Old 10-23-2003, 02:43 PM
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It's not the first time I hear that story. I understand that as clutches wear the material is suspended in the fluid and that keeps some friction in the clutch packs. When you replace the fluid, the friction is reduced and the tranny doesn't work anymore.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD
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  #4  
Old 10-23-2003, 05:00 PM
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Location: Stone Mountain, Georgia
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Well that sure makes me wonder what to do with my tranny trouble!

My '83 300TD "slips" going from 3rd to 4th if left in D. If I select S and wait for it to "wind" just a little bit in 3rd, then move the selector to D as I let off the accelerator, I can feel a nice solid shift to 4th and life is good.

1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd shift fine, if just a little sharp. But I have to baby it into 4th. The problem seems to be shifting from 3rd to 4th under load.

I just recently bought the car and it had that condition when I bought it. The milage is 167k and from looking at maintenance records that seems to be correct, or at least real close. I bought it with "major work" in mind, but I know there are some vacuum issues and such, and Trans-X!!!, that may take care of it.

Just wanting to get all the info I can.

kma
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  #5  
Old 10-23-2003, 08:15 PM
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Location: Evansville, Indiana
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Shift feel can be adjusted within limits, but flare on shifting that cannot be adjusted out without making other shifts too hard is an indication that the clutches are worn out.

The bad news is that by the time the clutches are gone on an MB tranny, it needs considerable other work, too, so a rebuild is the best option, not a local shop replacing the clutch packs. They usually work worse after than particular "fix"....

Peter
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  #6  
Old 10-24-2003, 01:31 AM
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Is the tranny adjustment a complicated thing? I wonder if it has already been "adjusted out" or not. How easy is it to tell? If so, I assume it will just get progressively worse? Will it warn before failure or just die?

I guess I just pelted you with a ton of questions. There is so _much_ I don't know!

kma

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74 Porsche 914 2.0 - 92k and counting
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74 Harley Davidson Superglide - 38k and counting
68 Harley Davidson Sportster - currently in kit form
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