Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-13-2014, 02:33 PM
mespe's Avatar
benzbonz
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,848
how long is a trans fluid dipstick for a 1998 e320?

Title sums it up. I finally got around to attempting to measure the trans fluid level in my 1998 e320. It won't shift out of 1st, so I checked the TCM. It was full of oil. I cleaned it, cleaned the wiring around it and replaced the seal on the trans. But same issue, stuck in first and clunk when going into reverse (reverse starts out in second is the clunk I think).

Well anyway, I bought a TCM on eBay, put it in and same thing. I looked at the shifter mechanism, then took it apart- WRONG (I think) but same problems with the car after I put it back together.

So I bought a shifter assembly on eBay. I just got done installing it and thought, that now would be a good time to check the trans fluid level.

I pull out the springy type dipstick, thinking, this is pretty darn long. I put it in to measure the fluid level, and it got stuck with 8-10 inches still outside the dip tube and I can't push it in any further. I pull it out, it got oil going up to the springy part, way past the plastic fill line, AND I had that 8-10 inches to push it in.

So I measure it. It's 124 centimeters long (4 feet long for those unfamilar with centimeters)

Now I'm confused,,,

__________________
Closing the store
Benzbonz.biz
on your smart phone or tablet.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-13-2014, 02:59 PM
mespe's Avatar
benzbonz
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,848
I'm glad I stopped to start this thread. Gave me a little time to figure it out.

Good news is after starting the car and going from P to R there was NO Clunk!!!
So looks like there's a good chance that my e320 will shift properly.

I'm thinking that the trans is over filled. Don't know why I hadn't attempted to check the level before,,, that was before Winter, who knows,,,

So the springy dipstick doesn't go all the way in. It's not supposed to go all the way in. But it stops at some point. I noticed 2 places where it seemed to want to stop, but continued past them.
Now to drain some fluid and put the console back together and give the state some money,,,
__________________
Closing the store
Benzbonz.biz
on your smart phone or tablet.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-13-2014, 03:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 2,574
You did check it with the engine running and transmission at operating temperature, yes?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-13-2014, 03:50 PM
mespe's Avatar
benzbonz
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,848
no not yet. I haven't let the trans warm up, and I thinking that's a good thing, as I removed at least 1 quart of trans fluid, and I'm still above the 25C.
The shop temp is maybe 40 degrees and that's pushing it.

I bought the car in the fall, amd Winter set in before I could finish, so I brought her into my shop while looking for the TCM and Shifter.

It's been cold, so I hadn't worked on the car, until today. (Got the shifter in today, so that was reason to brave the cold shop and tinker a little.)

The trans fluid is still above the 25C mark, but I want to se if the car will shift. No way the transfluid is going to get hot enough to expand past the 80C mark in the 1/8 of a mile I'll test drive.

Before she never shifted. Now I got to go,,, will report shifting when I return.
__________________
Closing the store
Benzbonz.biz
on your smart phone or tablet.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-13-2014, 04:32 PM
mespe's Avatar
benzbonz
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,848
Bummer, still no shift. And I can't put it into manual mode, won't physically move, as in the entire assembly has to move forward 1/4 inch or so, is there an adjustment for this?

I suppose that's the least of my worries regarding this car,,,
__________________
Closing the store
Benzbonz.biz
on your smart phone or tablet.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-13-2014, 06:21 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: El Dorado Hills, CA, USA
Posts: 418
Okay, how did you clean your TCM. I assume you removed the case of the TCM like on post five of the following post?:

My attempt at replacing the transmission plug. - Mercedes-Benz Forum

Yes, the dipstick does not go in all the way, and it is not even remotely close of going all in... You will feel the stop and that is the end...

Keep your old TCM. The versions of software in the TCMs had a lot of changes, and the early(pre 99) had many changes. Some will not work on certain transmissions...

To clean the TCM takes a handful of hours to do the job right... One has to use contact cleaner, and soak the board. Blot dry(do not let it evaporate dry-One wants to wick-up as much oil on the paper towel). Repeat it about a six to ten times. Then allow to dry about four hours or overnight...

Your fluid and filter needs to be no more than a handful of years old. The level must be proper. You can be in limp mode, or a valve in the valve body is stuck for several reasons. Dead solenoid, or bad shifter.

Here are some literature that may help:

http://www.startekinfo.com/manual/volumes/cd1/2_3/p13.pdf

http://www.startekinfo.com/manual/volumes/cd1/2_3/p11.pdf

http://www.startekinfo.com/manual/volumes/cd1/2_3/content.pdf

Also, before you go crazy replacing parts have your codes read from the circular connector in the fuse box, but on a catastrophic problem. You can get a OBDII code in the 700's...from the port under the steering wheel..

Best of luck,

Martin
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-13-2014, 07:44 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
If its in limp mode it can only be taken out of it with the startek system, you will not be able to do it on your own. If it was leaking fluid into the trans controller then there is a plug piece and multiple O-rings that need to be replaced to stop the problem.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-15-2014, 09:41 AM
mespe's Avatar
benzbonz
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,848
Thanks for the help guys,,, I broke down and bought the SD4,,, so I will be able to reset any codes.
I still have the old TCM, and I will try that, would be good to have a working spare.

I guess I can now reset the ECU on my wife's e320 4matic. We keep getting one malfunction because we haven't subscribed to the SOS service.

__________________
Closing the store
Benzbonz.biz
on your smart phone or tablet.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:54 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page