leaking 4 speed, quick fix? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

arcticathlon · #1 09-17-2006, 06:51 PM

so i got my 240D running great, and gave it to my cousin to drive for college (45 mins away). about 3 months ago i had put new redline MTL into the 4 speed, and after i had done that the clutch would not work. it is pneumatic and i had to reprime the brake system to get the clutch working again.

so my cousin called me 1 day after i gave him the car telling me that the trans is dripping slowly. the lvl of trany fluid must be low enough for the brake system and clutch to get filled with air. he said that it is leaking where the trany and engine meet up, and the clutch wont actuate. i need to know how long it hard it is to replace that gasket, and if it is something i need to have done by someone else. i dont have time anymore with my job, and i dont have my tools with me in my appartment. also i need to now go and find that gasket online and add it to my order.

so once i replace the gasket, i need to refill the trans and then reprime the clutch/brake system.

stcbenz83 · #2 09-17-2006, 06:54 PM

it sounds like a leaking rear main seal, but if its dripping trans fluid not motor oil, im not sure. also the air in the lines for happened to me to, turned out that one of my calipers were toast and was pulling air into the system thus my front brakes and clutch were not working

arcticathlon · #3 09-17-2006, 07:06 PM

hmm never thought about my calipers, how can i check my calipers and single one out?

Palangi · #4 09-17-2006, 07:10 PM

What color is the leakage?

Sounds like clutch slave cylinder leaking, not the transmission.

kerry · #5 09-17-2006, 07:32 PM

You seem to be confusing the hydraulic clutch system and the transmission oil. There is no connection between the two. If the clutch is not working, this is a fail safe system that MB built into their master cylinder reservoir. When the brake/clutch fluid drops below a certain level, the clutch master cylinder takes a gulp of air and won't operate. This gives you a warning before the brakes fail. Focus on the clutch/brake systems for the leak and get that problem solved before considering whether there is a transmission fluid leak.

I hope you didn't put transmission fluid in the clutch system.

arcticathlon · #6 09-17-2006, 07:34 PM

wow you guys are good. that is what i was just about to suggest. my cousin sent me some pictures of the leak, and the fluid is white/yellow. it is not tranny fluid and not motor oil, so it has to be the brake fluid. i will have him look at the clutch more and see if i finds a leak in that area.

kerry · #7 09-17-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticathlon

wow you guys are good. that is what i was just about to suggest. my cousin sent me some pictures of the leak, and the fluid is white/yellow. it is not tranny fluid and not motor oil, so it has to be the brake fluid. i will have him look at the clutch more and see if i finds a leak in that area.

I've only worked on the slave cylinder on a 307d and not a 240d but I'm guessing it should be on the outside of the bellhousing on one side or the other. If you got that picture, you should be able to get a picture of the slave cylinder. I don't think there's anything inside the bellhousing that can leak.

arcticathlon · #8 09-17-2006, 07:43 PM

the clutch cylinder, that is just behind the clutch you push with your foot, is very rusty/corroded. it must be one of the problems in the leak.

Stevo · #9 09-17-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticathlon

the clutch cylinder, that is just behind the clutch you push with your foot, is very rusty/corroded. it must be one of the problems in the leak.

The clutch slave is on the passenger side of the bell housing and an easy job to change. Sounds like that might be your leak.

JimmyL · #10 10-15-2006, 01:29 AM

Whatever happened with the leak?

arcticathlon · #11 10-15-2006, 10:36 AM

well it is about to be fixed. instead of a leaking tranny, it was the slave brake cylinder that was the culprit. i had AAA tow it to sherman imports in north little rock and they took a look at it. the guy is armenian, and his dad owned a taxi company in Armenia with over 80 W123's in the fleet. so he knows the car like the back of his hand.

anyway i had him replace the slave cylinder, and the clutch master cylinder (which had lots, i mean lots of surface corrosion), he also said that the brake fluid had rust and other junk in it and looked like it had not been replaced in 20 years. so he said he would flush the whole brake system for free and clean it all out. i also had him replace some lines in there and some were brittle (knew about that).

he said after parts and labor it would cost about $300, which i think is fair because parts were close to $100 and a couple of hours of labor for a guy that i know will take car of my car.

i should get it back on monday and i cant wait to drive it again.

Stevo · #12 10-15-2006, 12:03 PM

You did good. I think you mean he changed the "clutch" slave??

changing out the master and flushing the system was a smart thing to do and the price was'nt bad considering your whole brake system is flushed.

arcticathlon · #13 10-15-2006, 03:35 PM

ya that is what i meant. my job has me doing 80-100 hour weeks, so i have very little car time, my wife needs wife time...

since the money is good at my job, i can pay for certain repairs where i either dont know what the problem is, or things that are over my head.

bgkast · #14 10-15-2006, 03:54 PM

That price seems fair. When I did my clutch line the part form MB was over $100