This is continued from "air bubbles in transmission fluid" (http://www.peachparts.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004428.html):

I picked up my 84 300SD today, which (supposedly) just had a new transmission installed. So I checked the fluid about 20 miles down the road, and it was about an inch above where it's supposed to be (still with bubbles in it). So I turned around to head back to the shop that worked on it. And once it's good and warm it starts flaring from 3rd to 4th gear under medium acceleration, exactly like it was doing before the new transmission was installed. They think it's a vacuum problem.

Is there any way I can tell if they really put a new transmission in there? Is vacuum problem a reasonable diagnosis?

I'm obviously not going back to this place after this, since they can't even get the FLUID LEVEL right! And I'd be happy to tell anybody who they are.

Can someone recommend a good independent Mercedes shop near Santa Barbara?

Thank you for your help.

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD

Dean, if I were you, I would get right under that car and see if you got what you paid for, i.e. a new tranny.

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

How can I tell if it's new? Where exactly is the transmission? Can I maybe find a diagram of the underside of a car somewhere?

I left the car there, and they gave me a loaner car (a piece of $#!+ lowered purple Nissan with no hubcaps and bald tires, that looks like the getaway car for a Taco Bell robbery), so I won't be able to look under it until I get it back in a week or so.

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD

[This message has been edited by dean (edited 06-04-2000).]

Well Dean, the tranny is attached to the back of the engine. If you look at it, it ought to look new, i.e. no grease, grime, lean surfaces. Ask to see the paperwork on the new box. Ask where they got it from. Don't assume that they gave you what you paid for, especially if it has the same kinds of problems. You just shelled out major $$$. Make sure you got what you paid for. Also, there should be some kind of warranty. Make them put things right..

Get the warranty in writing, and see another shop!!

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1992 500E (very soon I hope
1981 280GE SWB
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

OK, I've got the warranty in writing now. I got them to drain a bunch of fluid today, and it was still a little high when I checked it when I got home. Lowering the fluid level seems to have taken care of the bubbles, but not the flaring. I'm planning on taking it to another shop in a few hundred miles to get the tranny fluid changed and everything adjusted. This time I'll go to a guy who knows what he's doing.

I looked under the car when they were draining the fluid, and the tranny was all clean and shiny. He showed me my old parts too, but wouldn't give them to me when I asked him if I could keep them. I think he rebuilt it. I paid $1050. Do you guys think I got ripped off?

Any ideas on what might be causing the flaring on the 3-4 shift? It only does it after it's warm.

Thank you for your help.

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD

[This message has been edited by dean (edited 06-10-2000).]

well, what is printed on your
contract ? Brand new or rebuilt
replacement or rebuild existing
unit?
I believe you are entitled to old
parts, in general.
you'll know whether you paid too much if you end up paying more to fix it in the near future.
ugh.
good luck. sort it out !

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1979 300D
133K miles
1989 300SE
1995 C280

Yeah that's what I thought, about the old parts. I told the guy every other place where I've had work done on a car has given me the old parts.

The receipt just lists all the parts he replaced, which he said are new: "Torque Converter, Gaskets, Clutches, Planitary Gears, Brake Bands B1 and B2, Oils, Fluids, Filter."

I had a really hard time understanding the guy. His broken English was really bad. I think that's why I'm so confused as far as what he did.

Would a new transmission be listed as one part, or would each of its new components be listed separately?

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD

[This message has been edited by dean (edited 06-10-2000).]

Dean, when a new transmission is put in a car, it is NOT put in a piece at a time. It's one complete assembly that usually comes out of a crate. I think this guy has really taken you for a ride.

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

Yeah, I think so too. Oh well, it's not the end of the world. The engine seems to run really strong. And a rebuilt tranny ought to work well enough. I think overall I have a decent car.
I'm sure I'm not nearly as bad off as some other people having their cars worked on there. He was working on a BMW 850 and some W140's. The owners of those cars have a lot more to lose than me with my old diesel 126 .

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD

A rebuilt is NOT a new transmission. Since
the transmission is not new, I would demand
that the rebuilt be removed and a NEW
--and NOTHING ELSE--transmission be
installed, for the price on the contract,
even if it is at his loss.

If you have further trouble with this,
and the contract specifies a NEW tranny,
I think you should threaten/try to sue.
Don't let this guy take you for a ride.

I've had enough run-ins with the automotive
repair industry in the last 6 months alone
that I know you can NOT say "oh well" and
take whatever they give you. When you do that, you are the only one who stands to lose.

That's just MHO.

Good luck!

Justin Dobbs

[This message has been edited by jrd (edited 06-10-2000).]

Dean... if the tranny is overfilled it shifts very strangely. I have used import auto down off lower State St. Gary Semeridjian is a good guy... take the car in..

From the description of parts used, you have had your transmission rebuilt.

This means that you have the same bunch of metal but the wear pieces have been replaced and all adjustments/set-ups being made.

This means it should work as new. There probably is NO SUCH THING AS "NEW" for anything but current model vehicles. MB sells "Rebuilt" units; basically the same thing you should have recieved. The price you paid is below what any competent MB shop would charge so I definitly would verify that the work was performed.

The problem you have is probably adjustable externally but is part of the job!!! Pre 1985 Diesel trannies needed constant tuning of the vacuum control system. If the tranny is properly set-up internally the repair is simple for an experienced MB tech.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

Unfortunately, the only contract I had was a verbal one.

Steve,
I guess I left out that $1050 was just my half of the deal. The used car dealer where I bought the car paid another $1050 as part of a 50% warranty that the car was under. It's good to know that I paid less than it would normally cost (assuming he actually rebuilt it).

I'm planning on taking the car to an independent MB mechanic in Santa Rosa who has always done good work on the 280C for an honest price. (One time, he diagnosed on the phone that the points needed cleaning. After he cleaned them and adjusted the timing, it ran better than ever before or ever since. Unfortunately it had a smog check a few days later.) I'll ask him if he can verify that the tranny has indeed been rebuilt. I'm heading north too soon for the tranny to be broken in in time to take it somewhere in Santa Barbara for a service. (But I will keep Gary Semeridjian in mind, surfnvet.)

Thanks for your help, everybody! I will post it here when I find out exactly what has been going on with my car.

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD