So I've left the end of Long Island and drove 2 1/2 hours to Yonkers NY above the Bronx. Barely made it as the transmission was slipping in an out of gear. Does not want to go into reverse (but will and then slip a bit) and when I parked and checked the fluid it as at the low end of the stick while the car idled. Forward finds the engine racing and the gear slipping. I had put a 1/4 quart into the tranny yesterday. Is there a autozone product I can use like trans-x? I fear if I drive to Hamden tomorrow the tranny will fail completely. Any tips?
This is a 1995 e320 wagon- yeah I know it's not a diesel but I need help today and DD is the best place to get it.

Is the fluid checked with the engine idling and in neutral while warm or with the engine off?
thanks

Check the fluid with the car running. Make sure it is at the full level but dont overfill!!
You could probably use Dex 3 fluid from Autozone in a pinch but I wouldnt put any "additives" or "trans fix" in a bottle in your transmission
John

Okay so at idle in neutral there is very little fluid on the stick- only on the very tip of the stick. Same with the engine off- this is with a coldish engine. What type of fluid is recommended?

It does go into reverse and forward just now when I checked the level but it wants to slip.

After it is up to temp, with the car in park, check the level. It needs to be between the two lines in these conditions. Sounds like you are low on fluid.

__________________
Jim

Dex 3 is the preferred fluid?

Mercon/Dexron III.

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Jim

Bad news- the level appears to be okay. I park on one side of the street which looks level and the level is at the bottom of the mark. If I turn the car around it's at the top mark. On the other side of the street it's about the same. I added some Trans-X and dex/mercon compatible with Dex III (thinking the level was low). After a short drive which saw more slipping and reverse which was sketchy I checked again and the stick was really hot. Not as hot as the trip this am but hot.
Do trannys go like this in a short time ? I think I should abort the 2 hour trip to Hamden to get the manual tranny for my w123. I bought this car up here in NY so my w123 transmission would not fail up here.
135K car and the tranny is bad?

Has it ever been serviced - fluid/filter change?

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Jim

How much does a tow home cost?
How much does a U-haul van cost?

I'd plan on it failing, or at least damage being done if you drive that far.

U-haul may not be too bad. Have a friend w/ a minivan?

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

Unfortunately, yes.

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Jim

U haul rents pickup trucks for $ 20 day + .59 mile or if you ask for the business / daily rate it is $ 85 day with 100 miles included + .29 extra miles. You pretty much have to go for the $10 damage insurance because if the truck is damaged, they will bill you for repairs + rental. Yes, they will "rent" you the truck as it is being repaired because they consider down time lost revenue.

I went this route when picking up a car 300 miles away because using my truck would have been a long, slow, noisy and bad fuel mileage ride. The rental pickup got 15.7 MPG towing a trailer at 70 + MPH.

If you are getting just a transmission, a regular rental car would fit the bill.

You may get lucky. Do some reading.

Here's one. http://avtopedia.ru/akpp/722-3%20722-4.pdf

also check mitchell manuals. I think I searched "mercedes 722.3 site:mitchellwhatever.com"

send me your email & I'll send you a couple of files.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Not that I know of. The car has no PO history. It was operating as designed just a few days ago.My home is in FL. The boat is 100 miles away thru NYC. Not a good place to break down.
My email is in my user profile I believe. I looked at your pdf but I will not be doing the repairs myself. I have to take it to a repair shop and trust them. Ugh.

So the car drives but still slips and does not like to go into reverse. It is 50f degrees this am. I drove the car for 10 minutes and the stick was not hot.
Not sure what to think.