Greetings Forum Members,

I recently purchased a 1997 E420.
Before purchase I reviewed the posts regarding the major atributes and weeknesses of the car.
This past Wednesday I drove my car from Boston, MA to the White Mountains of NH for a couple day get away.
Thursday I noticed a faint winning sound comming from where I initually thought was the engine compartment.
The sound would begin at about 1500 RPM and increase in pitch with the increase of engine rpm in park and while driving.
Eventually I traced the sound's source to somewhere under the car near the engine.
Friday afternoon after a drive along the Kangamangus Hwy ending in Conway, NH the forward transmission gears began shifting irregularly.
I drove into the first gas station I came to and put the car in park to assess the situation.
I reved the engine and the rattling whine seemed louder.
I put the shift lever into drive to move the car forward a bit and NOTHING. THE CAR HAD LOST ALL FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS.
I turned off the car and called AAA. While waiting for the tow company I started the car and I had forward and reverse back again. In fact I drove the car onto the flat bed tow truck.
Not taking any chances the car was towed back to Boston.
Has anyone had a simular experience or might know what the problem might be? Would low tranny fluid be a possible cause for the rattling whining sound the transmission is making?
Assistance with this problem would be very appreciated.

Knarf

__________________
72 350SL #69
73 450SL Parts Car?
78 450sl Parts Car
79 450SLC - Sold
1985 280sl
87 190E 2.6 - Donated
90 300E-Junked
97 E420

Early production 722.6 suffered from transmission planetary failure, metal contamination plugged filter could be the whine. Does not sound good, I would remove the oil pan and look for any metal. Time for a rebuilt
.

__________________
Steve Cattaneo www.mastertechtrans.com


03 SL500
02 MB AMG
87 560 SEC
87 300D
928S 83
85 928 S2 EURO

Steve can confirm, but I suspect having the trans adaptation values scanned would provide some valuable insight to how the trans has recently been adjusting itself to compensate.

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

C32AMG & TAllison,

Thanks for the input.
One thing that I forgot to mention is that when I first noticed the tranny wine I poped the hood and discovered that the top of the air filter box was disconnected partly exposing the air filter element. Mass air sensor air to the engine was not being filtered.
I read in a post that this condition can effect transmission function.
I checked under the car and beginning around 1300 rpm I discovered that it is the torque converter making the noise.
My car was manufactured 9/97, would this tranny be considered an early model?
I will drop the pan and see what it reveals.


Knarf

__________________
72 350SL #69
73 450SL Parts Car?
78 450sl Parts Car
79 450SLC - Sold
1985 280sl
87 190E 2.6 - Donated
90 300E-Junked
97 E420