1999 SL500 transmission noise - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jjrodger · #1 11-24-2005, 04:15 AM

There is a strange noise from my transmission. The car is a 1999 SL500 with 102k miles up. Transmission has had the fluid changed once at 70k.

Noise occurs in 'D' drive at about 1,600rpm, whether passing through that speed or holding it constant. It sounds like a gravely, rattly, graunching noise. Quite quiet. Definitely from the transmission. Only when the car is moving. Does not occur in 'P' park or 'N' neutral.

Any ideas? This has been bugging me a while now.

detailas · #2 11-24-2005, 07:31 AM

are you sure it is not a loose exhaust? i had similar problems / ratttles, etc few months ago (only in D) when driving over bumps / or when turning hard, etc and it turned out to be a loose exhaust since the dealer who changed my catalyst did not do a proper job in re-securing exhaust.

george

++

Kebowers · #3 11-25-2005, 05:28 PM

It is possible the drive plates in the unengaged clutch pack are rattleing. I think there is a TSB on this--not sur eif it includes your tranny though.

jjrodger · #4 11-30-2005, 02:43 PM

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure it is not the exhaust. I can't find the TSB on alldata, I don't suppose you have a copy? Mine is the 722.6 tranny. What are the drive plates in the unengaged clutch packs? and are they meant to rattle? (Sorry if this sounds like I am asking for a treatise on the operation of an automatic transmission.)

den500sl · #5 12-02-2005, 05:04 PM

A fellow Englishman of yours on a different MB forum had unfortunate experience of replacing his 722.6 gearbox on his 9? SL600 and dealt with various shops such as Automatics in West London. Mercstar in Harrow, etc.
He appears to be very knowledgeable about the R129 and its internals. His forum name is bluesl and the link to thread detailing his experience is -
http://www.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71930

Good luck!

97 SL500 tri blk
sprt pkg 1
28k miles

stats007 · #6 12-03-2005, 07:19 AM

He had one of the early 5-speeds - introduced in 1996. This problem was fixed in 1997 - despite what blueSL says.

Guenter · #7 12-05-2005, 09:22 PM

I've been reading all I can about the 90's SL500 because I would like to get one of these cars. I came to the conclusion that for a number of reasons including less noise and fuel economy a 5 speed is worthwhile (so looking at '96 and up). I hear mention of manual shifting which doesn't make any sense to me. I DO realize that one can shift manually 1 to 5 (D), but it's just not the same as having a clutch. Specifically, what happens on, say, downshifting? Will the engine adjust rpm well enough so that there isn't excessive braking? or on upshifting, does one lurch excessively? Maybe I'm missing something. Any advice appreciated.

cheers, guenter

Southern · #8 12-05-2005, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjrodger

There is a strange noise from my transmission. The car is a 1999 SL500 with 102k miles up. Transmission has had the fluid changed once at 70k.

Noise occurs in 'D' drive at about 1,600rpm, whether passing through that speed or holding it constant. It sounds like a gravely, rattly, graunching noise. Quite quiet. Definitely from the transmission. Only when the car is moving. Does not occur in 'P' park or 'N' neutral.

Any ideas? This has been bugging me a while now.

Check your engine mounts.

jjrodger · #9 12-06-2005, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southern

Check your engine mounts.

Thank you, will do. The car is back in the shop this week. I changed the shockers not so long ago and engine mounts were next on the list (it's a 102k mile car).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guenter

I hear mention of manual shifting which doesn't make any sense to me. I DO realize that one can shift manually 1 to 5 (D), but it's just not the same as having a clutch. Specifically, what happens on, say, downshifting? Will the engine adjust rpm well enough so that there isn't excessive braking? or on upshifting, does one lurch excessively? Maybe I'm missing something. Any advice appreciated.

The transmission is well-adapted to manual selection of gear ranges, but of course that is all it is; there is no comparison to a true manual transmission. Up- and down-changes are well regulated and smoothly executed. For instance manually selecting a lower range while braking into a corner is perfectly feasible and naturally carried out, as are the up-changes under hard acceleration on the way out. I can only sing the praises of my '99. It has proven reliable and efficient and these later (post 06/1998 build)models come with a very full specification as well as uprated brakes and slightly stiffer suspension.

Guenter · #10 12-06-2005, 12:37 PM

Thanks for that. I've been looking for an all around 'fun' car now that the kids are just about out of the house

and I can't seem to find a better car (for the dollar) than a mid 90's SL like yours.

cheers

Carlos Serrano · #11 12-08-2005, 01:08 PM

JJ did you ever find the problem with the noisy transmission?
I follow your posts since we have the same year SL500, and you have the miles in yours, I'm curious about what the future holds as I put on the miles on my silver bullet.

jjrodger · #12 12-08-2005, 01:13 PM

I haven't done anything about it yet. I'm really busy at work and we're using my wife's car day-to-day again, so I just don't have the time or indeed the car to go to the dealers. I will post a response as soon as I get a solution.

I assume your car does not make this noise? It is a very quiet, rattley, gravely, rumbling sort of noise as the tranny passes through 1,600 rpm.

LeaUK · #13 12-09-2005, 02:38 AM

JJ

The only info I can find regarding noises from the transmission is as attached. I'm not 100% sure if this relates to your transmission though, as I think yours is a 722.624 or 765.907 and of course this relates to the 717.46 post '96!?

Maybe of some help.

Lea

gmo442 · #14 03-28-2006, 08:24 AM

im getting the gravelly rattly sound only in park and neutral, not in gear... 93 600sl

any hints besides change the tranny?