Help Transmission Dip Stick broke off - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dave Bunker · #1 08-16-2003, 12:27 AM

Came back from 10 days of vacation, went to check my trans fluid, pulled out the dip stick, wipped it off and slid it back down the tube and SNAP! The !@#$% en broke off. Damn.

*You think it dropped down into the oil pan and if I change the oil I'll be able to retrieve the broken off piece?

* Am I screwed? Can I drive it if it is in the bottom of the pan?

I looked in my engine manual and it doesn't have a picture. If anyone has a picture of the inside where the end of the dip stick tube stops, email it to me.....

Any help will be appreciated....

Dave Bunker

Dave Bunker · #2 08-16-2003, 01:40 AM

forgot to mention the type of car.....420sel

royaiii · #3 08-16-2003, 01:58 AM

Use a magnet stick maybe you can retrieve it.

1991300SEL · #4 08-16-2003, 02:19 AM

The magnet idea is interesting, but if the stick was pretty much seated when it broke, the magnet may need to be real hefty in order to pull out the remainder of the stick.

The tranny pan on 126 cars is REAL simple to get off. Off the top, I forget if it's 12mm or 13mm. Put the front of the car on ramps. You do not need to go all the way up, just enough to provide crawl space underneath. The amt. depends on how large you are.
Block rear wheels with chocks to ensure car doesn't roll off.

Pull the tranny pan after 1st draining. 5mm allen head removes tranny pan drain plug.

The stick will be protruding some into the area where the fluid was. Push it upward. You may very well get it up enough so that it's now protruding out where it's inserted under the hood. Take pliers and pull it out.

Put pan and maybe new gasket on tranny pan - reinstall - do not over-torque the tranny pan bolts - 5/6 lbs. is all. Reinstall 5mm allen. You will have lost 3-3.5 qts approx.

While you're at it, you may as well replace the filter and if you really want to do it all, drain the converter too.

I suspect you're just trying to fish out the stick, so maybe the converter drain can be done later. Your choice.

stevebfl · #5 08-16-2003, 09:09 AM

In the mean time the broken piece can not go anywhere, So unless you are low on fluid there is no hurry to any of this.

Another interesting bit of trivia is that through the various trannies the dipstick tubes change with every application and the stick doesn't. This generally means that while the tube from a 300E won't work on a 300SEL, the dipstick probably will.

Dave Bunker · #6 08-16-2003, 11:08 AM

The dipstick never got caught in the tube. The broken off end with the red plastic gauge is what is down in the pan or tube....
From what Steve said, I have nothing to worry about for now....except buying a new dip stick.....

Thanks,
Dave Bunker

MTI · #7 08-16-2003, 01:52 PM

Does anyone use those alinco oil pan magnets?

haasman · #8 08-16-2003, 01:58 PM

MTI

Are these internal or external magnets? Are they magnetic drain plugs?

Porsche has used magnetic drain plugs for years.

Haasman

MTI · #9 08-16-2003, 02:35 PM

In addition to the magnetized drain plugs, I've seen external magnets for oil filters, differentials, transmissions and some internal ones for oil pans. I believe the PT Cruiser has a magnetic puck inside it's oil pan. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with them on our (especially the W201) cars, in light of a possible dip stick chip floating around in the pan.

jbaj007 · #10 08-16-2003, 03:03 PM

http://www.synlube.com/magnets.htm