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#1
03-02-2008, 11:43 AM
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No Automatic Transmission Dipstick?!?
My '96 SL600 has developed a small AT fluid leak. So I went to check the AT fluid level… lo and behold, there is no AT dipstick – just a silly MB cap that says dealer serviceable only.
Question – Without a dipstick, how does one check the level of the AT fluid? Cheers, Jeff
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MBCA Member #B012089 (Lone Star Section) OBK Member #47 (W123 Division) '96 SL600 (105K) Triple Black - Mein über-Fräulein '79 240D (292K) Yellow/Saddle - Mein Spielzeug '01 ML430 (123K) Black/Saddle - Wife's Ride '94 SL500 (164K) Green/Champagne - Daughter's Dream '73 450SL - RIP '86 300E - RIP '88 420SEL - SOLD '94 S320 - SOLD 
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#2
03-02-2008, 12:18 PM
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You gotta buy the dipstick from the dealer, or have someone with the dipstick check it.
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-Justin 91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd 01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd 07 MB ML320 CDI - dd 16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd it's automatic.
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#3
03-02-2008, 12:24 PM
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It is a shop "tool".
Search here and you can find the dimensions of the end of the stick and then make your own from heavy wire or from a junk yard donor.
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Terry Allison N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama 09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA) 09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)
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#4
03-02-2008, 12:36 PM
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My 1996 E320 model still has the dip stick. Even that the level checking is complicated.
The dipstick had two marks, actually four, Max and Min for AT fluid temp at 80F (30C on mine) and Max & Min for 180F (80C), measured at the AT pan. I don't know how the hell can it be achieved? how do you catch the moment of 80F and 180F, it is just crazy that the engineers came up with that.
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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011 --------------------------------------------------------- 1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007 Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE Last edited by Texholdem; 03-02-2008 at 01:10 PM.
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#5
03-02-2008, 12:40 PM
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The SL more than likely has the 722.6 trans and the E the 722.4.
SDS tells you internal fluid temp.
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Terry Allison N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama 09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA) 09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)
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#6
03-02-2008, 01:05 PM
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Previously dipsticks measured the distance from the top of the tube to the fluid level. The new transmissions measure the depth of the fluid by using a stick that is considerably longer than the distance to the bottom of the pan. What you then are measuring is the distance from the bottom of the pan to the surface of the fluid or the depth. Such a dipstick will not fit installed into the tube and as such is a tool rather than part of the car.
Most manufacturers have become ultra sensitive to the exact level of the fluid in the trans. This has to then include measuring it at a specific temperature. While this is easy to do using the diagnostic computer it is also easy enough to do with a Raytek infrared temp measuring tool http://www.flw.com/rayt_ol1.htm?gclid=CJejifGA75ECFQZzHgod-G9Spg There are other cheaper versions out that are probably accurate enough for these measurements.
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Steve Brotherton Continental Imports Gainesville FL Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1 33 years MB technician
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#7
03-02-2008, 01:22 PM
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[Sigh] the uncomplicated time with my old 1989 300CE is gone. Two level measures at two specific moments when the AT fluid reaches the specified temperature. Supposed you have AT fluid temp over one range, say 120F, what do you do? wait and re-measure again and again until it cools down to 80F?
And if one level is OK and the other not, should the fluid be added or extracted? either way it will affect the good one. My expensive approach: I took it to my indy, got it flushed and refilled and hope that it is OK. I can't never be sure  .
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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011 --------------------------------------------------------- 1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007 Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE
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#8
03-02-2008, 02:02 PM
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Many cars have two ranges on the dipstick: one for "Hot" and one for "Cold".
If you're more comfortable with that scale, then 180F = Hot, 80F = Cold. 
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Jeff Pierce Current Vehicles: '92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver) '93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk) '99 Kawasaki Concours Gravely 8120 Previous Vehicles: '85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon '53 Willys-Overland Pickup '85 Honda 750F Interceptor '93 Nissan Quest '89 Toyota Camry Wagon '89 Dodge Raider '81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport '88 Toyota Celica '95 Toyota Tacoma '74 Honda CB 550F
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