Transmission model number + other

[pwells]

How do I tell exactly what transmission I have, e.g. 722.6??? The vehicle is an 99 model E430 made in late 98, the VIN is wdbjf70h5xa741359.

Also the car now hesitates when moving off, worse if I goose it, hardly perceptible if I accelerate gently. The ETC bulletin referenced here

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=48087

doesn't talk of this problem. Should I update the ETC? The hesitancy doesn't bother me but is there something preventative I should do to avoid bigger problems down the road.

Thank you,

Peter

[blackmercedes]

You do have the 722.6. A typical diagnosis for off-idle slipping is a faulty pressure control spring. If your tranny is under warranty, it might mean a wholesale replacement instead of repair. If not in warranty, a pressure control spring is not terribly expensive.

[pwells]

Blackmercedes thanks for replying. A couple of follow on questions, firstly am I doing any harm running with a defective pressure control spring, i.e. is it something I need to take care of or can it wait, secondly can you give me the basics of what it takes to change this spring.

Thanks again,

Peter

[blackmercedes]

All I know is that my .6 tranny had a "slip" off idle, and that was the diagnosis. As to the in's and out's of doing the job, I have no idea. My tranny was under warranty when it did this, and instead of repairing it, the dealer changed the tranny, ETC and converter.

It began doing it while I was on vacation in Alaska, and the car had no problem making it the 5000km's home, but it was getting worse by the time I took it in. I would suspect that inaction would eventually lead to something breaking, and perhaps collateral damage.

You should get a diagnosis and make a plan from there. My dealer found the problem in about an hour of diagnosis.

[stevebfl]

You should have the later VB that doesn't have the spring problem.

Hesitation??? Transmission? I don't get the relationship. Sounds to me like an AMM problem or a big air leak. Check the accordian hose where its clamped (cheaply) to the hard hose.

[blackmercedes]

Originally Posted by stevebfl

Hesitation??? Transmission? I don't get the relationship.

On my own car, and some others I have seen, the transmission "slips" when starting out. It feels like a bad hesitation, but not like an AMM related problem. More like a "delay" while it finds the gear.

It also was worse when using a larger throttle input, but nothing like the stumble of a failing AMM. A failing AMM also tends to be much worse when really getting into the gas pedal.

Checking for vacuum/intake air leaks and some time on the SDS would probably be the next step in finding the problem.

[pwells]

Thanks for replying. Stevebfl, hesitation isn't really the right word, as BlackMercedes says it's more of a lag when you move off between when you press the gas and the transmission engages. The engine picks up just fine. However I'm glad to hear it has the later VB.

As I don't have access to the SDS I'll wait until it is next in for a service and as them to look into it.

What I will be tackling in the next few weeks is the lower control arms!

Thanks again,

Peter