transmission.....urgent!
 

I did a search and came up with a few things, but this is really important, so I'd like to give my car's symptoms outright and see what everyone thinks. I changed the fluid/filter only a few weeks ago, and after I changed it, it shifted perfect, much better than before the fluid/filter change. I inspected the pan, and saw no grit or shavings or anything of that kind. So I thought I was good to go.

Well in the last few days, it's been acting up to say the least. It won't upshift right, will only upshift with higher RPMs....so if I'm cruising a parking lot, it'll hold it in a lower gear. The shifting is just overall pretty eratic (all gears). As far as flaring....I've never been in a car where it was said to be flaring, but I'm pretty sure it is. When I want to accelerate it jerks really hard and seems to hit high RPMs, but then "settles down." So perhaps this sounds like flaring. So is this simply the end of my transmission or is this something that can be fixed?

Here is the bigger problem: I'm 7 hours from home. Am I gonna make it back? Or should I be concerned about going back??

Can we assume
 

that you have rechecked the fluid level carefully in accordance with standard procedures (engine running in park or neutral after warm-up to 80C, perfectly level parking spot, time for fluid to get down out of dipstick tube so it doesn't give a false full reading, etc.???

Your symptoms COULD correspond to something as simple as a low fluid level, although there are more serious possibilities, too, such as an error in installing the filter or a defective filter inhibiting fluid flow.

I'd carefully check the fluid level first, and if it's ok, then I'd panic and seek professional advice.

mbtjc

If it shifted well after the ATF and filter change and then has started acting up, I would first, of course, check the ATF level. It is quite easy to over-tighten the trans pan bolts and especially when warm have a leak.

My second suggestion is to suspect a vacuum leak problem going to the trans, either the line, the line connector (they get hard and brittle) and/or a bad vacuum modulator itself.

Personally, I can't stand flaring. I know it is simply wearing away the trans unnecessarily. See if you can get it into a shop that knows the car and the trans. Often shops that respect a earnest DIYer and especially someone away from home, especially as far as you are, will really try and help.

Keep us posted.

Haasman

Thanks Fimum and Haasman. I will do that today. I'll inspect underneath and look for signs of a leak (although I did torque the bolts) and I will carefully check the ATF level. So assuming that both of those check out, what should my next step be? Remember I'm 7 hours from home. Are there certain vacuum lines to check? Where can I find them?

Although finding a shop would be the way to go, I think it would be very difficult since it's already Friday and since I don't know the area, finding someone that knows Mercedes will be next to impossible. I'd hate to have to drive an hour to Indianapolis today.

Thanks again for all your help.

Well I got ahold of a shop here who supposedly work on MB trannys all the time. If checking/correcting fluid level does not work, I will take it out there today so they can at least tell me if it's urgent or not. I'll keep you posted.

This is good!

If it isn't low ATF, I suspect a vacuum issue: line, connector or vacuum modulator.

Haasman

If the condition started after a service, it is real likely the level is low. It is real easy to misread the stick if one is adding fluid at the same time. One side of the stick catches fluid from the side of the tube. One must look at both sides of the stick and chose the side with the lower indication!

Thanks everyone...well here is what happened. I checked the level and it looked to be low. So I bought some fluid and a funnel and started adding a little, but just like Steve said, the level is a pain to read. So I called that shop and they told me to come over and he'd take it for a drive. So by this time, I probably added less than 1/4 of a quart of ATF. First he checked the fluid, and he said it was a little low, but not low enough to be causing problems like I had described. Then he drove it and it was doing the same things. He definitely said it was late upshifting and thought it might have even been skipping a gear. While he drove it, he manually shifted up and down a few times. It shifted fine when he did it manually. So then on the way back to his shop, it started shifting fine again in D. While we were there, we topped it off and I left. Altogether I added maybe half a quart if that. But for now it's shifting fine, I just hope it continues shifting ok!! He mentioned that maybe a valve inside the tranny could have been stuck or been hanging or something, and the manual shifting got it loose. This sound reasonable??

Well for now the car is doin ok. I'll see if it keeps it up. I'll keep you guys updated if it starts acting up again. Thanks!:cool: