I picked up a filter and new seal for my transmission today. I have a 1985 280SE. I have never changed a tranmission filter. Is it hard to do? Any advice?

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1985 280SE

materials needed: case of your favorite Dexron III ATF, tranmission filter, pan gasket, and aluminium washers, they are availible as a kit on FastLane.
1. Using a 5mm allen bit, loosen and remove the pan drain plug, let all fluid drain out
2. Turn the engine in normal rotation, until torque converter drain plug shows up in the little "window", loosen it with a 5mm allen too
3. using a 13mm socket, remove all 6 bolts holding the fluid pan to the transmission, and remove the pan
YOU MUST KEEP EVERYTHING SURGICALLY CLEAN FOR THE NEXT STEPS!
4. BEING SURGICALLY CLEAN, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the tranny filter in place, beware of trace fluid
5. Install new filter, MAKING SURE IT IS CLEAN, see if the cork o-rings are on the filter holes
6. Clean pan with your favorite degreaser, i use brake cleaner or Gunk with a good hose-off. Dry the pan, KEEPING IT CLEAN AND FREE OF DUST, LINT, OR GRIT. Install the new gasket
7. Reinstall the torque converter drain plug, using a new aluminum washer, tighten it securely
8. Reinstall fulid pan, DO NOT OVERTORQUE THE PAN BOLTS! If you do, the gasket will leak!
9. Reinstall fluid pan drain plug, again use new washer
10. Refill tranny to the COLD(lower) level, a pint at a time.
11. Check your work
12. Drive car for a bit, check fluid, add if needed to upper line.

Jack up car.

Drain transmission.

Remove the 4 bolts that hold on drain pan.

Spill tranny fluid -- keep the drain pan handy! You will always spill some off the pan. At least MB give you a drain plug -- american trannys used to drain by loosening the pan bolts and letting the fluid pour out.....

Unscrew the two or three screws holding the old filter on. Watch for more fluid when you pull it down.

Install new filter.

Remove old gasket from pan.

Clean edge of pan and dry. Install new gasket.

Wipe seal surface on tranny clean. Use some solvent to get everything off, even oil.

Thump pan on tranny untill the gasket seat -- thump will turn into a "clop" sound -- much sharper, can't miss the change unless you are deaf, and you can feel it, too.

Re-install the four bolt, don't over tighten, you will distort the pan and it will leak.

Take car off jackstands.

Refill tranny by putting two quarts of fluid in, start engine, them putting shift lever in all gears, ending in park.

Check fluid, then SLOWLY add more, checking after each addition, til you hit the ADD or COLD mark. Drive car to get tranny hot, check and adjust fluid and check for pan leaks.

Best to drain the torque converter at the same time, in which case add three quarts to start, total is 5, I think.

Be very carefull not to overfill, this can ruin the tranny.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks......two questions. How do you drain the torgue convertor and what is the reccommended torque for the pan bolts?

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1985 280SE

the torque converter uses the same drain plug as the oil pan, a 5mm allen. Just turn the engine over in the normal direction of rotation until you see the plug in the bellhousing's little "window". No need to pull the crossmember off. I believe the torque for the pan bolts is 6 ft-lbs, i'm not sure.

I just recently had my car tranny fluid and filter changed. I noticed a lot of tranny fluid leaking a couple of days afterward. I checked the engine hot after driving it for 30 minutes and the fluid level was about 1/8 to 1/4 inch ABOVE the high mark. I thought it was just a fluke so I kept driving it for another 3 days. When the leaking didn't stop, I checked again and the fluid level was 1/2 full when hot. Do you think I caused any damage during that period? I returned to the shop and they tightened the torque converter drain plug and it stopped leaking but said it might come back!