Car wont go into forward gear/ only reverse help!!

[BB]

Hey Guys need urgent help, wife got home 3 am had to reverse home all the way from client meeting . The car 190E was ok at first them lust suddenly forward gears just gave up the ghost. So she put into reverse and it engaged then she drove all the way home in reverse. Checked transmission fluid this morning bit low topped it up but still no success The car wants to go forward you can feel it but just not enough engaging no forward movement.
Any body able to give clues as to what to look for?
We are stuck now cant go to work with car.
Regards
BB

[David C Klasse]

Yes, your problem is common. Do a search on the subject and you will find all the info you need. I think it has something to do with a B2 band or something of the sort. DO a search and you'll know. Good luck and sorry to hear about that...

(Reminds me of the time I was 16, and had to reverse home through 3 cities when a Jeep wouldn't engage in any forward gears.)

[BB]

Tried to do search but on my sons computer now having difficulty in search .
Do you have any threads you may suggest?
Thanks in advance.
BB
P.S. She was screaming mad when she got home took 1 1/2 hours at night / should have been 30 mins.

[Benzmac]

I have seen this happen 3 ways.
1. B2 brake band breaks. (Tranny rebuild time)
2. B2 piston breaks, you can do this in the car.
3. B2 pin falls out. Take off the pan and look for a silver pin that is about an inch or so long. IF you find it in the pan, you must reinstall it. It is not easy, but can be done by just taking off the filter. I have done this before.

Its the B2 piston thats bad. You might be able to repair it without an total rebuilt. How many miles are on the car?

BB,

I've BTDT with the same problem. All of the above advice is correct, you just won't know until they start teardown. If the piston is the culprit, say thank you and hug your checkbook. If the band is broken, they will remove the piston with the car on the lift and the tranny installed, then say that's not the problem, we have to pull the tranny.

Once they pull the tranny, they'll have to pull the guts completely out because the band you probably lost is the on the rear set of planetaries. Once they get this far, you have to decide whether to rebuild or install a commercial rebuild. You'll have already paid for the labor to teardown the original. I chose to have a mechanic I trusted rebuild mine, partly because I knew what I had and partly because I figured they wouldn't have too many 4matic trannies on the shelf.

I had the whole thing done, including the replacement band, for about $1900 with all new parts. YMMV.

Good luck!

[BB]

Thanks guys plenty of great advice , once again the forum has given great words of wisdom,
They help for when you go into the shop you do know what you are talking about and dont get bullied into too much money spent in the wrong areas.
The band did go and its a bit of a mess in there and a rebuild was in order , the costs for this were starting at about $2500.00 Australian (1/2 that in US dollars)
My Mech found another box we checked all items and replaced filters and oil etc. before installation will be ready today . He worked overnight on it and its costing me $1600.00 in total (Australian / thats about 1/2 in US dollars) the box has done about 90,000 kms from what I have already found out thats mighty fine price also.
The mech is in Brunswick in Victoriuan state Australia . He also imports his own parts from the motherland and Lebanon, He's Lebanese and has a guy who I swear has Mercedese self leveling fluid for blood, thats all he works on(Even the factory dealerships aroud give him a call for tricky problems on older cars.
So once again thanks to the many out there the forum has proven itself yet again with quick responses and sound advice.
Thanks again
Regards
BB

[BB]

Well Guts just as I posted the phone rang and its ready,:p
The bill comes to $1866.70 in Australian dollars.
This includes the following
1 x Box with new filters and all new gaskets and seals.
1 x Full service on motor , Oil, Plugs, Front Brake Pads&Sensors, Air filter, Fuel filter , Oil Filter and labour including GST (Tax)
For $1866.70 in my money (Thats about half that in US dollars)
How does that compare to prices in the states?
Im pretty pleased considering he did it all within 24 hours turn around also as he knew we needed the car ASAP.
Regards
BB
PS Sorry for the last posts spelling mistakes.

I just had the same thing happen to my wife's 1991 300TE. We were only a couple of miles from home, but since I couldn't decide which side of the road to drive on when you're going in reverse, we just coasted into a parking lot and had them pick it up there. They replaced the band, the piston, and some of the clutch discs. The total came to $1900 US. The only prior indication that something might be amiss was a couple of days before my wife said the car would not back up when she put it it reverse. The next day when I went out to try it, it worked fine. My question is could anything have been done to prevent it and can I expect this sort of deal in the future?

[BB]

Sorry to hear that you had a similar problem All the people I have spoken to say that its just dumb luck many times , but if you service the tranny regularly it does minimise any future problems.
I have a w123 wagon 280,000kms no problems , My father in laws w116 350,000 no problems my mates 3 x w116 & 1 x 126 total 1,400,000 kms no problems all still original boxes!
So it may happen that they just may have been inferior metals gone thru the system and we were the poor saps that got them
If your box was properly o/hauled you will get many years or even never have issues with it again.:p
One thing for sure Merc do build good solid cars lets say 99% of the time , nobody can be 100% all the time.
gee your box cost $1900.00 thats $3800.00 in my money (Australian) thats at the high end , that is what the factory dealer said it could get to at the worst senario, Glad I found Sam Khoury.
Again sorry it happened to you just give it a service frequently say once a year or so and always check the fluid levels and it will be fine for quite a while.
Kind regards
BB
W123 wagon
W201 190E

[Ashman]

I had my tranny rebuilt but because I lost two clutch packs.


cost me $1700 which included the springs being installed to lower my car, and a fluid flush and change of all fluids and diffeential fluids and all.

Not too bad if you ask me. your price sounds like it was very good.

Mine cost like $1400 to do the rebuild the rest was in extra stuff I had him do.

Alon

I had the "reverse only" problem last month also.
I have a W123 280E and the reverse band had broken.

Your right about Sam at Khoury Spare Parts. As MB owners
in Melbourne we're fortunate to have him there.

I repaired the auto myself, and it cost me around $600 in parts and a lot of stuffing around being the first MB tranny I have worked on. The rear band itself cost $500.

My understanding with the transmission in my car (It is a 722.3 type auto) is that they have a weakness with rear bands and rear servo pistons.
Normally in local cars exchange bands are available, but with this auto no exchange available as they all break! I am led to believe
that the new bands are stronger than the old type...I hope
this is true!

[merc380sel]

Hi BB,
I lived in Sydney but would like to enquire about some parts for my W126. Can you supply me your Melbourne mechanic contacts? Thanks!

[BB]

Hey there fellow Aussie , nice to see there are others from down under on the great mercedeshop forum . Glad to know Im not the only one from the land down under:p
Her are some numbers that I have amassed over the last 12 years since owning mercs
I have have a few 116 350se, 116 280se, 201190E(wifes current )and my personal and project W123280te

Here are some contacts her that will give you no B-S answers and reasonable prices, they also have been known to supply dealers with hard to get parts at times.

Sam Is good when he gets to know you you start to get better prices his number as follows
Sam
Khoury Spares
St georges road
Brunswick Victoria
(03) 9489 0083

Abdul is pretty good and they get lots of parts from Japan thru grey imports (many W126 getting in now)
Prices again reasonable (he did new cassete in my sunroof ) and im getting alloys for wifes 190e next week reasonable @$600 for 4 wheels ,almost new same as on the w126 560 15" Cheaper than plastic covers - (they get pinched a lot )
Abdul
German Star
Banbury Road
Reservoir Victoria
(03) 9469 2698

Colin gives good advice parts cheap but labour can be on dear side.
Colin
Auto Deutsche
Bayswater, Victoria
(03) 9720 8100

Just mention my name to Abdul and Sam they know me as Steve from Mandalay Receptions tell them you are a mate thats gone interstate (short cut to mates rates)


If you need more info drop me a line or email me at
steve@weddingrecption.com.au

Hope you get the bits you need
regards
BB

[BB]

Sorry just thought about it as I posted last. What about the guys from Oz posting your great contacts for bits in Australia here, or we can get another post underway maybe?
Let me know where and who is easiest to deal with and gives no B-S advice and prices.
regards
BB