O.K. I am changing the tranny fluid tomorrow. I have a book withg fairly detailed instructions, but (after a search) I still have a few questions.

1. Which way EXACTLY do I turn the crankshaft pulley in order to get the drain plug on the torque converter to where I can access it. In other words, I'm under the car, my feet are sticking out from under the front bumper, and my head is PAST the crankshaft pulley, and tilted forward looking at it. Now which way do I turn it?

2. what does the nub on the crankshaft pulley that I need to turn look like? Where is it located? Is there a reference point near it? I could not seem to find it, and the book's pictures are terrible.

3. Also, the pics for the transmission oil pan and the filter are quite bad as well. Anyone have a description of where they are?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

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headrivenoise... listen.

one more question:

4. in the book, the last step it mentions before you fill the tranny back up is "Connect the control lead to the TSZ switching unit." What does this mean. They have no step prior to it where I disconnect a control lead.

Thanks.

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headrivenoise... listen.

1. When I did mine, I just used a screwdriver and inch by inch I was able to get the bolt in that window for hassel free access. I turned it the same way the engine cranks over.

2. Use a screwdriver under the car. There is small "window" on the transmission exposing the bottom of the torque converter. Use the screwdriver and "inch by inch" try to get the bolt aligned.

3. As soon as you remove the pan, the filter will be obvious.

Good luck.

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JR
1986 Gold 300E 4Dr automatic

I'm actually unsure of which way the engine cranks over. That's why I need it so specific. Previous posts have said that "the engine turns clockwise when looking at it." But unfortunately if your looking at the engine from under the car (like when your changing tranny fluid) or when your in front of it, say looking at the headlights, clockwise is 2 different things. I'm pretty sure the post meant clockwise when looking from headlights, but just wanted to be certain, something like this you should be sure of. Also, I am confuse because another post said the fan turns opposite the engine, but I'm pretty sure it turns clockwise when looking at the engine from the front when looking at headlights.

Thanks for the quick reply, jrm.

P.S. wouldn't the 27mm nub be easier to use than a screwdriver, or is it hard to access?

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headrivenoise... listen.

Engine turns clockwise.........


William Rogers........

1. As mentioned, clockwise when viewing the engine from the front. If you're lying under the car, turn such that the lowest section of the flywheel or crank pulley goes from left side of the car to right side of the car.

You're not looking for timing marks on the crank pulley so an indicator is irrelevant. What you might do for the future is paint a mark at the low point of the crank pulley so you'll know when to stop turning if turning the nub. It's easier than turning the pulley and watching the torque converter.

2. The nub is smack dab in the center of the crank pulley. It's somewhat recessed. There's just enough room between the fan shroud and the pulley to wiggle in a 27mm socket and ratchet.

3. The pan is the lowest point of the transmission and it looks like a pan. It's about a foot long by 8 inches wide by 2 inches deep. It's held by 6 bolts. Go easy when tightening. Even is good, too tight is bad. The filter is the lowest point with the pan out of the way. It looks just like the replacement filter you should have in hand only darker.

4. Not a clue. I wouldn't worry about it.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

That was exactly what I needed sixto. Thank you very much.

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headrivenoise... listen.

Okay. Tranny fluid change was successful today. Unfortunately I still have a bit of a problem. The shifting has improved, and when giving light to moderate gas it is perfect. But when I hit the gas fairly hard, the tranny let's the engine rev quite high (i suppose this is normal) but then clunks into the next gear. It is especially bad when I am already moving at a good clip and then hit the gas hard, say when merging. Anyone have any ideas where I should look for problems next?

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headrivenoise... listen.

Sounds as though you may not have enough fluid in the trans. Better recheck the oil level in the transmission. This can cause the scenario you are referring to. By the way, how many miles does the trans have on it?

Check the oil level, also check you oil pressure; working and modulator, working pressure could be low.

I actually am unsure if I am checking fluid level correctly. I've been checking at 80 deg. celcius (sp?). There is a lot of splash up on both edges of the dipstick, even when I wipe it and put it back in again. So, I have been measuring from where there is a solid line of fluid all the way across the stick, not just a bit on either side. This only seems to happen on one side of the stick when I check it. Is this the correct way, or should I be paying attention to the highest edge (not solid through the dipstick) mark?

I put 7 liters in with the fluid/filter change. My book calls for 6.2, but I heard my these cars can take about 8 somewhere else.

Thanks for the replies everyone. She drove quite a bit better today, and after a year of tinkering, I feel that she is real close to running perfectly... Almost there.

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headrivenoise... listen.

About 8 quarts with converter drain.

I let the oil drain in the dipstick tube for at least a minute when I check the fluid. The dipstick seems to "wipe" fluid up the tube when you pull it out, and it's fairly viscous. If you don't wait, it wipes back onto the dipstick and makes it hard to see.

You might also want to take a while paper towel and lay the stick on in to see where the fluid it, it's very hard to see on the dipstick proper.

Low fluid will make it slip, so will low vac to the modulator -- check the vac line at the rear runner on the manifold, and use your mitivac to check that the modulator holds vac.

It's normal to get some flare when downshifting -- it's there to let the engine run up before the lower gear engages to prevent "thrashing" the crank.

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!

Peter: Is the vac line the larger black hose running along the drivers side of the tranny?

What's the mitivac and how do I use it to check the modulator?

Sorry, new to tranny work, but I am learning a lot here.

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headrivenoise... listen.