560sl 86. Been having some slipping in and out of gear, wrong shift points, general malaise with my Trans. Only thing I new to do was change the filter, replace the fluid and see if I could stall the grim reaper for a while. I did the filter and fluid (and the TC). The old filter obviously had been on there a good many miles. Afterward, it drove OK for a few short trips-seemed a little odd at the shift points, but driveable. Made the mistake of letting my wife drive it about 20 miles to get to work. About a mile from her office, she said it started slipping and she barely limped into a parking space. High pitched hining, no torque, hardly any forward thrust.

I went to pick up the car and it was not reading on the dipstick so I added 4- 5 ounces of fluid up to the middle of the mark on the stick and it drove just fine going home although I babied it all the way.

This morning, taking my kid to school, got about 3/4 mile and it started squealing, lost torgue and I had to coast downhill just to get back home. I left it to get my kid going but when I got home, it started and went in all gears and back up the driveway like nothing happened. Huh?

I guess I'm going to have to take it in for surgery, but what should I suspect is the problem?

Thanks.

JB

Renewing the trans fluid is not as simple as changing the engine oil. Too little fluid will churn and induce air. Too much will force it out the breather. For model 124 (probably similar to 126) you are supposed to pour in some amount less than full, run the engine and shift through all gears to move fluid into the servos, then add the rest. I don't change my fluid/filter myself. An automatic transmission is too much for me to screw up.

I was very careful, and it worked just fine for several days after.

JBoggs