'94 E500 Tranny Slip
 

Help!! :eek:

My 1994 E500 is not "grabbing" when I put the shifter in reverse. Fluid level is correct (there are two levels on the dip stick, it is full where it says "180", the higher of the two measurement places), it has 118,000 miles, is do for a filter and fluid change at 120,000, and the only recent repairs were a new radiator (and hoses) about 2 month's ago. Hopefully there is an easy remedy, or advise on how to proceed.

Thanks

Steve

Mine was doing the same thing, ended up replacing it.

:( Not good news 2phast. i was hopping for something more optimistic as the budget does not include a tranny expense for awhile. BTW, very nice website.

Any other idea's/suggestions to take care of this or help me limp through until a new tranny is in the picture?

Thanks

What do you mean by not grabbing? Is reverse completely gone or is it just slipping? Could be that the guy that replaced your radiator got gunk in your trans cooler lines. If so, it could just be a gummed up valve body.
Adam

Good question evil - it is slipping, and of course it there is any type of incline it will not move. On the level I can gingerly get it to roll back. If the valve body is dirty, or if there is some contamination in the line, what is the recommended cure? It does not sound like just changing fluid will do the trick as it might not get the junk out (if this is the cause). I do not have the ability to flush it under pressure, but I might be able to find some one who can. It would be better to give this a try first before spending a couple of grand on a new/rebuilt tranny.

Thanks

When reverse starts slipping or refusing to engage, its normally a indicator of extremely worn clutch's inside the transmission. Flushing and/or changing the fluid isn't going to help. My 2nd to 3rd shifts were flaring, which turned into a occasional failure to upshift at all. Then my reverse started slipping, then started refusing to engage, although high reving of the motor would sometimes get it to engage, but that was dangerous. Swapping valve bodies, overfilling the trans (old trick) nor changing the fluid made any difference. When my 3rd to 4th started misbehaving, I bit the bullet and had a rebulit/reeingineered transmission installed.

2phast - sorry for the less informed response, but I did not experience any of the forward gear issues you mention, I just lost reverse. Would the symptoms and and the cure be the same anyway? I did find a rebuilt tranny at Adsitco for $1365 plus shipping. Where id you source yours?

Thanks

Can you tell us more about the "re-engineered" part ?

:-) neil

Sounds like your reverse clutches are gone:( Continuing to try to baby it will only make it worse. If you are certain to replace it then you could wait for it to let go but as it stands you probably could have it pulled and repaired for less than a repalcement.

how does the reverse clutches wear out before ( any of ) the forward clutches?

Reverse is a weak point in the trans and a big V8 up front doesn't help. Even with a 6cyl in my car I'm always easy on it in reverse.

Ditto that. Rik, what was changed?

:balloon2: