88 300TE - had the tranny rebuilt about 1 month ago. When it shifts it feels like the rear end is going to fall off. Now I noticed under stress, like passing or quick acceleration - it jumps and bumps and I have to opt to remove my foot from the pedal and proceed at a slower acceleration (I also have noticed a few trans. fluid drips).

Any help would be appreciated!

Sounds like the shop may have overfilled the trans fluid. I would check this out first. (The fact that it drips may indicate overfilling through the vents; also, the very hard shifting may also be indicative of overfilling). Hope that's all it is-or I would go right back to the shop and get it done right! Good luck!!

Thanks, unfortunately I had the work done across the country. They gave me a 6 month warranty - but, they are 2,000 miles away. I'll check they level tonight - hopefully, that's all it is.

I'd give the shop a call, tell them your problem, where you are, and ask them where you can take it to be checked that they would pay for the visit. It might be a simple adjustment of the pressure valve on the drivers side of the tranny, but check the fluid level first. By the way, out of curiosity, what did you have to lay out in $ for a rebuild? I may be facing one in the near future. Good luck.

__________________
'76 240D-Sold
'78 240D-Sold
'85 300 SD, 165K-Sold
'88 300 TE, 165K-Sold
'64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration
'86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold
'94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED
'06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles
07 SL550, 14K Miles

Thanks Ron,

The cost was about $1,100.00 - if I had to do it again though, I think I would opt for the re-built tran from MB.

As an update - I checked the fluid level and indeed it appears to have been over-filled. As a follow-up to this, I was wondering, in the early morning (even after the car has been driven 10-15 miles) the shifting seems smooth without the somewhat vicious "clunk". I have not attempted to put it under stress or passing gear until I get the fluid to a normal level. My first thought that since it is somewhat cooler in the am thats the reason, but even after the car seems "warmed up" - it shifts smooth. Any thoughts?

Wellington -

This is absolutely routine and normal behavior.

As the transmission fluid circulates, it puts too much pressure on the throttle valves, etc. This is why the overfilling of the fluid causes rough shifting as time progresses during that particular drive.

You need to flush and refill the system properly. That will solve your problem; 99 % certain.

Thanks again, will do today - I'll let you know how it goes.

OK, it didn't appear to work. This is what is happening now: While accelerating from a stoplight (slightly faster then normal - not punching it), the car will attempt to go into 2nd, hesitate, jump to 2nd and then quickly into 3rd. The hesitation is similar to fuel being shut off (I know it is not bad fuel, injector problem, etc.), the hesitation is real jerky. On the highway when I try to go above 65, it will appear to almost go into neutral - no acceleration, the engine will rev if I maintain the throttle - after the speed goes below 65, it appears to go back into gear. I saw postings regarding various adjustments, etc. - could this be the problem - another item of note - the temps were above 95 degrees and the car appeared to be running a little hot also.

Wellington-

Sorry the fluid change didn't work. But it was important to eliminate that as a possibility.

Hopefully, adjustments will do the trick. However, this is out of my realm of experience.

Hello, Steve?

Don't despair.

Do a search on "flairing". There are a number of excellent threads that will get you through the adjustments. They work! Have patience and you will have the transmission working properly soon if you follow Steve's already written threads.

__________________
'76 240D-Sold
'78 240D-Sold
'85 300 SD, 165K-Sold
'88 300 TE, 165K-Sold
'64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration
'86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold
'94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED
'06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles
07 SL550, 14K Miles

thanks, will do.

There are a lot less external adjustments on a gas motor's automatic transmission.

I do not understand your symptoms, but I fear that you may have a totally separate problem; fuel or ignition related. To verify, try shifting totally manual. Start out in 2 and only shift out after you have accelerated. It is unlikely that acceleration while held in gear will cause such a loss of grip as to be the way you describe.

Can you check your manifold vacuum?

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Update - I have been out of town so I am getting back to the problems with the 124 TE - I think now that this problem may not have anything to do with the tranny (or very little).
It appears that I am actually losing power somewhere - if I place the vehicle in park or neutral and rev the engine, I get to 3000 rpms and that's it! This would be consistant with the shifting problems I previously discribed: if I try to punch it a bit from a dead stop - the tranny would appear to jump/shutter and I would have to release the pedal and it would shift ok - on the highway, I could not exceed 65 mph. This appears to be consistant with the 3,000 rpm level.

I realize there are many reasons for power loss - plugs, fuel pump, etc. Any suggestions?

Maybe you have excess carbon build up. Try an italian tune-up. Seeing as you revved the engine to 3000 in neutral, try doing that in gear, and see how it works out.
Other than that... there are MANY other possibilities. Among the simplest though are the Italian tune up and try getting a bottle of TECHRON and running that through a tank of gas.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)