Today the transmission started to shift harshly into all gears. The vehicle has 68K miles and I was going to change the filter and oil this weekend. Is this a symptom for the fluid to be changed or is it another problem? I am assuming that vacuum has something to do with it. I am also experiencing surging and am going to clean the intake, flaps, and egr. Could this be also causing the harsh shifting?

Thanks,

Alex

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2005 E320 CDI 47K (Daily driver)

Sounds like a vacuum leak somewhere. Check your hoses. You can also try adjusting the vacuum modulator on the transmission. CCW = softer shifts. Do check the level and condition of the ATF.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I'm pretty sure on that one you can also drain the torque convertor. Where you planning on that too?

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

I appreciate all the help that you two guys provide. I will be working on the car this weekend doing all the preventive maintenance from engine to rear-end. I just get worried about all the horror stories that I have read with the W210s. Thanks again, and I will keep you up to date.

Regards,

Alex

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2005 E320 CDI 47K (Daily driver)

Okay,

I changed the filter and fluid and the car still shifts a bit harsh. The pan was clean and no metal shavings or particles in the fluid. I was not able to drain the torque converter. I was going to use Mobil 1 synthetic, but the parts guy at the dealer said it would damage the transmission. So, I used Valvoline non-synthetic instead. Where can I find the the vacuum modulator?

Thanks,

Alex

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2005 E320 CDI 47K (Daily driver)

Oh the Horror I think the reputation is far worse than the reality. I have yet to see anyone post about rebuilding one of the OM606 engines yet or having a warped head for that matter even with many of these going well over 200k or 300k miles. Only time will tell I guess. I love driving my E300 but do have one area that annoys the @*#% out of me and that is the cracked dashboards. MB has been building cars for how long? and did not know in advance that whatever they used was going to crack in less than 5 years? Maybe if I broke down and did the proper repair I would get over being a little angry. Hey that's it! Just do it!
Best Regards,
Paul
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98 E300

Like I said in the other thread, I don't see any reason why synthetic would hurt anything. I think most would agree that it's better, but I wouldn't drain what you already have in there just because of that, maybe in another 15K-30K miles. A MityVac might help you locate your vacuum leak if that's what the problem is. The modulator is on the driver's side of the transmission. It's a round thing with something you can turn and a vacuum hose coming out of it. Be sure your fluid level is correct by checking it on flat ground with the engine running and looking at the correct temperature marks. I haven't done a transmission fluid change on this car yet, but on my '87 I did drain the torque converter and I believe the same is doable on this car as well.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I second the possibility of a vacuum leak. My '95 came down with that symptom, out of the blue it started to shift very hard. Turned out to be a cracked Y vacuum fitting under the intake crossover.

And by the way, if you have not changed your fuel filter, try that. My relatively minor surging situation totally disappeared when I put a new fuel filter on it.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D