No Forward Gears........HELP!
 

Hello,

I have a 90 300CE (124 Coupe) with about 175k miles on it.

I was driving home and was stopped at a stop sign, when I went to go forward I felt a thud and now the car has no forward gears, reverse is fine but no forward. I tried putting the car in first gear and moving the shfter lever all the way down then back into park. But no forward, the car feels as if it is still in neutral with no responce to drive, or forward gears. Reverse is strong with no problems.

The transmission was rebuilt about 2 years ago, and has about 60k miles on it. The fliud was replaced with Mobile 1 synthetic about a month ago and was fine up till tonight. Am I looking at another transmision rebuild?

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Most of the time, the rear band will break and cause this. I have one other time when the rear piston broke and caused the same thing. You will have get it towed and looked at by an EXPERIENCED MB tech!@

My experience confirms Benzmac's advice. The same thing happened to my wife in our 91 300TE, the shop thought it may have been the B2 piston. Ended up tearing the hole tranny down because the rear band actuator had a fatigue failure in the casting. I had all new parts used in the rebuild, but since your's was rebuilt 60 k ago, I don't know what to tell you. If you have the same failure, the synthetic oil wouldn't have made a difference. My failure was more than likely a casting defect.

I talked to MBUSA about some help and they laughed at me because the car had 150 k miles on it at the time. I can see their point, how many other brands would even be getting a call about something like this at this mileage?

Good luck.

someguyfromMaryland

Thanks guys for your input, greatly appreciated.

I had the car towed up to the shop, they are supposed to look at it this week. Just puzzles me that it was completely rebuilt only 60k ago. Hoped it would have lasted longer than this.

Thanks again!

Not all rebuilds are created equal. Automatic transmissions are not the simplest things to work on, and MB knowledge is essential. Years ago, I drove truck for a company that rebuilt automatics and supplied parts to other rebuilders. MOST auto-box rebuilds were CRAP. Absolute junk that wouldn't last long at all.

I would trust only the most expert MB mechanic to rebuild an existing tranny. None to be found? Buy a "crate" MB-rebuild from MB. Not much more than rebuilds anyway...

Update
 

Hi,

Thanks again for all your input.

It was the rear band that broke in the transmission. Now I have another question though, what would cause this to break? The mechanic said it was replaced when he rebuilt the transmission 60k miles ago, with a MB band.

He feels it was from doing a "hole shot" I assured him I have never done one with this car, in its life. Some one else told me to replace the rear transmission mount, that could cause it.

Just curious on what could cause this. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

VERY common failure for this band to break, it is welded & that causes stress. Most never have a problem!
TOO much clearance on the B-2 piston will cause premature failure.

Check out BENZMAC's first entry on this problem as I'm sure he has seen many with broken bands & band pistons as well