PLEASE HELP- "1993 400sel (w140) transmission problem!!!
 

THANKS ALL!!!

Transmission hesitates and take a while to engage at the lower speeds. Above 45 works ok, but still slight hesitations. Came home, car could not drive up slight incline into garage. I have 255,000 miles. Someone said that it may only need a fluid and filter change.

PLEASE ADVISE!!!

It could be low on fluid or have a packed filter. it has a great likelyhood of having a bad internal seal and within a short time if you keep driving it a rebuild will be necessary no matter what the current cause.

With your mileage you are due or maybe overdue a trans overhaul.

Thanks Stevebfl,

What should I expect to pay???

If you can find a MB specialty shop that does their own trannies you should be able to get it for around $2k. Seems the dealers usually wind up getting over $4k for a MB rebuilt, installed.

Thanks again Stevebfl,

Given the age of the car, do you think it's worth spending $2-4K on it and is there a remote possiblity that it's on the filter????

Is it worth driving? What other option is there. A used trannie is very little cheaper unless you buy it and put it in yourself.

In its current state the car can't be very sellable. I presume that when fixed for $2k it will sell for at least $4k more than the current state. If its time to throw it away, I'll take the parts (bg).

First check the fluid level. You may want to get someone familiar with MB transmissions in particular to check it and advise on if the fluid seems dirty or "burned". Usually if you are low it's because it leaked out, and your driveway or garage floor would have "informed" you by now if that were the case. But I'd still start with a level check.
If that seems OK, rather than just assume you need a transmission I'd have the pan removed and check the inside of the pan for metal chips or shavings. If that seems OK I'd assume like Steve, that there is probably a blown seal ring inside the transmission, or maybe a problem with a control valve.

Gilly