HI,i just got my car out of the shop my moron mechanic has had 3 hours to diag a cold start issue with the fuel injection on my 89 300ce,he also installed a fuel pump for me,since i get the car back from the shop he tells me the bottom fuel pump has a leak,i installed it so i know there was no leak,now its leaving a large pudddle in driveway,now get this,it never leaked any fluids,suddenly its dripping red tranny fluid,when it warms up and sits there it leaks out a spot about 3" diameter,i just started it up after it ran out of gas,when to the gas stattion filled it up with super.then i get in my driveway,i like to roll the car back and forth over the snow to pack it down,hmmm suddenly it wont shift into reverse,it shifts into drive just fine,i pull out the tranny dipstick and its way overfilled,since the mechanic has touched it its now leaking tranny fluid,now when warm it is not shifting into reverse,also i just replaced the battery and alternator,i said to myself hmm,let me place it in park shut the car then try again,to my surprise wow the battery is dead hmmm?what now new alternator new battery,the tranny is not going into reverse and then boom dead battery,am i cursed or is my car posssesed???? any ideas,i think that jerk off mechanic has been milking me for money,ive had it up to my eyes.will and overfilled tranny with hot fluid not shift into reverse,is there an electric solenoid on the tranny that shifts it into reverse,please any input is greatly appreciated.marc

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

The overfill would explain the leak, since it isn't a sealed trans the fluid is expanding and puking out the vent. Not sure if an overfill will cause the no-reverse, but could. No there isn't a reverse electric solenoid, this is not an electronic trans, all done hydraulically.

No idea on the sudden charging problem, get the battery charged and tested and check out the brushes in the alternator.

Fuel leak, I guess see where it's coming from and go from there, may be a simple missing aluminum washer I would imagine.

As another thought if the mechanic messsed also with the shift rod, maybe the no start problem is really with the NSS, which may also be related to no reverse? Are you SURE it is a dead battery? See if the headlights come on for example, and if so turn the key and see if the lights go dead.
Gilly

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well its wierd how the tranny just decided in my driveway not to shift into reverse.i figured there must be a vent that the tranny fluid is leaking from,the reason i thought the battery was dead was because when i turned ignition,the engine immediatley just turned over slower and slower and slower,the dash light were slowly lighting up as the engine turned over,so i think the alternator may be good,im gonna jump start it tomorrow,as long as it stays running im gonna have autozone check the charging system,everything was fine i literally replaced both battery and alternator 3 weeks ago.as far as the fuel leak,the upper fuel pump was leaking due to a bad seat between the check valve and pump body,so i had him install an eftermarket one i purchased from high flow fuel systems,my mechanic kept stressing how much he hates these aftermarket pumps,and how he almost didnt wanna install it,so i told him do it anyways,the top pump is fine according to him now,but out of the blue the lower pump is leaking,he told me it was just sweating,lol its dripping.he was trying to sell me bosch pumps,money is tight so i couldnt afford it,i think hes been tampering with my car because hes not making any money off the parts,but im very concerned about no reverse,tomorrow im gonna see if it goes into reverse when cold,if it does i will know its cuz the fluid expands when warm,is there a drain plug on the tranny pan? if i can find one im gonna drain the fluid to the correct level and see how it shifts.as much as i dont want to im gonna buy a bosch fuel pump and put it in myself,i just hate doing it on my back and getting sprayed in the face with fuel. im tired of this monkey tampering with my car,never had any leaks till he touched it,and now this no reverse when warm is reallly pissing me offf,thanks.marc

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

Yeah sure there is a drain plug on the older Mercedes.

Do you know as of right now where the fuel is coming from? I would just look and make sure the banjo fittings are tight before buying anything.

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what is the shift rod,and whats the nss? i know there is a cable from the floor shifter it must go to a linkage that moves the tranny into park, reverse, nuetral and d 2,i must say i also noticed since i got it back from the mechanic the tranny always took a little bit to go into reverse,but since he had it,when warmed up its been taking even longer to shift into reverse,now im noticing its not shifting into reverse when fully hot. what adjustment is there that makes the tranny shift into reverse and especially when fully hot,it appears the hotter the tranny fluid the more lag there is going into reverse. to the point now where it wont go into reverse.

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

oh im certAIN THE FUEL PUMP IS FINE,I INSTALLED IT AND THERE WAS NO LEAKS MY GUESS IS THAT HE LOOSENED THE FITTINGS WHERE THE HIGH PRESSURE COPPER WASHERS ARE,I NEED TO GET UP UNDER THERE REMOVE PROTECTIVE SHIELD PULL OUT THE 17MM WRENCHES AND MAKE SURE THE COPPER WASHERS ARE FULLY SEATED AND ITS ALL TIGHT,THE LAST FUEL PUMP HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING AND THE CHECK VALVE.BUT WHEN I INSTALLED IT THERE WAS NO LEAK,I THINK HES LOOSENING UP THE FITTINGS CUZ HE WANTS TO PUT IN BOSCH PUMPS

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

Crush washers for the fuel pumps, filter, and accumulator...I agree with you. He probably messed with them trying to figure out the cold start issue and put them back on without! Shouldn't have touched the tranny for that???

He may have accidentally caused a leak of the bottom pump when replacing the top one, it happens.

The shift rod connects to the shifter and transmission, maybe he bent it??? There is no cable, it's a rod directly between the shifter and trans lever.
NSS is neutral safety switch.

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Recommend using a siphon to suck out excess transmission fluid. Loosening the drain plug will cause a mess, and may drain considerably more fluid than necessary. Be sure to check the transmission fluid level on the dipstick with the transmission at operating temperature.

Find a new indie, who is honest and knows that vintage MB automobile, to work on your 1989 300CE.

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Fred Hoelzle

if he was looking for cold start issue he probably was looking at the fuel pumps and accumulator and had the connections loose. maybe the pump unions just need to be tightened.

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punkinfair

well i definatley think he may has accidently looosened the bottom pump while installing the top pump,it is hard to install a top pump without moving things around,i will recheck the fittings to make sure there tight,as for the tranny,still no reverse,the tranny shop is backed up till spring,dont know what im gonna do,but he did say iuts a possibility there is an internal leak in the tranny causing the fluid to leak out a vent,and not having enouigh pressure build up to go into reverse,this sux.

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

Stop and ask yourself "Why would any competent mechanic return your car and tell you the lower fuel pump is leaking? Why wouldn't he fix the leak? It makes no sense for the mechanic to ignore fuel leaks when he worked on the other fuel pump. That's irresponsible and inexcusable.

Let me advise you again. Take your 1989 300CE to a reputable, MB-trained indie who knows that vintage MB automobile to diagnose the transmission problem.

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Fred Hoelzle

Can you feel a whirring and vibration in the shifter when you put it in reverse? Or is it engaging but failing to go backwards when it does engage? The latter is usually caused by worn B3 clutches, but the former may be caused by a leak in the valve body.
See the thread "transmission quandry" for more info on the problem.

Dean, I have a PPI done by a local indie after I evaluate that a car is worth buying because I don't have a lift to be able to get under the car and check suspension & exhaust components; plus inspect for engine, transmission and differential leaks. I have known the indie for years and he charges $40 for the PPI so it's a good value for me. Granted, some may charge $200 for a PPI.

After buying my first MB automobile 12 years ago I had the indie perform some jobs. Now, as a full-fledged DIY'er the indie only does PPI's for me.

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