Help! ! Transmission Issue
 

As I backed out of the driveway, SWMBO says "Hey, you're leaking transmission fluid"....yipes....I asked if it was an old leak and she says "you're still leaking".

Well, long story short, I examine only to find that the clamp that holds the fluid line leading up to the cooler is crimped and has rubbed into the line causing a leak.

My question is:

I have to go buy one of these lines, so I figured I'd do a fluid and filter change at the same time....what kind of fluid do I have to get.

This is on my 84 SD with 271,006 miles....

Oh, and any idea what that line will cost to replace? I don't see one listed on Fastlane.

Dexron III/Mercon

David

Thanks David, is there a particular brand, other than MB's own, that you recommend?

i don't recall what the line cost, but it's posted on the "won't start for anything" thread on the last page or 2.

Fuzzball, Im ready to do the same thing to mine, since my tranny is slipping from 3rd to 4th only in the mornings, and I've read here that a transmission flush and filter change would help. I have a question though....How do I do that? Have you done this before? Do I have to remove the pan and let the fluid gush out everywhere? How about the converter. Do I have to remove the fluid there also? If so How do you do that? Ive never done a converter before. :rolleyes:

The Pictures
 

Here are some pictures of what I found this morning.

Well, My brother is the Tranny mechanic, so I'm not sure if I can help you much, but typically, you loosen the screws on the lower side of the car (as it's jacked up) first, then slowly loosen the ones toward the front in an effort to guide the fluid to a single stream....doesn't always work that way....

Helps to have a large pan, at least the size of a turkey roasting pan (or a transmission fluid pan).

I've never done a converter either, but seems to me that requires dropping the entire transmission.

I wish you good luck, as it sounds as if you have a lot more work ahead of you than I do.

Cool, I'll be looking....we all knew that Sady was going to offer us all a lot of learning!!

To drain the converter, rotate the engine with a ratchet and 27mm deep socket on the crank pulley until the converter drain plug is at 6 o'clock (straight down). Then, remove plug with a 5mm allen. Be prepared for a lot of fluid (over a gallon)

I checked out that post and it appears that he only had to do the rubber part, whereas I have the metal tube to replace, and the part that crimped it.

Oh well...still a lot of good info there.

Thanks Pete, learn something new every day!

Recently, had the same cooling line scenario...
 

Tranny service is a piece of cake on these cars. Unlike a lot of other makes, MB has a drain plug on the transmission and convertor. Both take a hex drive, 6mm I believe but dont quote me on that. Make sure everything is clean in the area before starting.

For the torque convertor, turn the engine with a deep 27mm socket and ratchet by the crankshaft nut and feel for the drain plug to become centered in the "window" on the housing.

Drain the filter pan, remove, install new filter & torque the filter to 7Nm/5.2ft-lbs. Pan bolt torque is the same.(Threadlocker is a good idea) Tranny drain plug torque is 14Nm/10ft-lbs and convertor drain plug is 15Nm/11ft-lbs.

I used Castrol Dextron III (Haynes manual says Dextron II). Capacity (turbo) 6.5 qts. Start with 4 qts then add to bottom full line. Top off after the trans is driven and warmed up. (You will be adding 100mL several times) With our current heat that will be accomplished by a drive around a city block!

The pre-formed cooling line was about $50 from the dealer. With new rubber-lined clamps you will be all set! ( I had to retorque the pan bolts about a month later, due to leaking, but have not had any issues since.)

Make sure that you only turn the engine clockwise (facing the front of the engine) or you'll have more to do than change tranny fluid.

Thanks SD Blue, I appreciate all the info.

I just called MB of Georgetown...$52 paid in advance and they'll have the part here in the morning...so looks like two days off from work...or working from home....

I really needed a break, but didn't want to get it this way...I already have Thursday through Tuesday off....! ! !

Anyways, I appreciate the info...

i had the same thing happen. i just cut the metal line and spliced in a piece of tran cooler hose it is not under any signiicant preassure and has worked fine for two years. i did make sure to wrap my splice with a larger hose to assure that it would not rub thru the new splice.
john madsen