190e mad at me? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aqua190 · #1 08-20-2006, 12:47 AM

well, i needed something bigger so i sold my 190e 2.6. 91, 98k. never any problems. had it about a year and a half. when i got it i changed all fluids, went over her good. haven't touched it since except for oil change. no problems at all, no leaks, no puddles, nary a hiccup.

well, sold her on tues. on wed, new owner called and said the trans wouldn't shift. i couldn't believe it so he came by and we went for a drive. sure enough, starts in 2nd, wont up shift. can manually shift from 1 to 2 but no further. had it towed to an independent mercedes shop for a look see. they drove it around the block and said i should probably look into a used or rebuilt trans. i thought they would at least want to chk pressures, drop the pan, chk the linkages or the infamous bowden cable. i told them i didn't mind paying for the check out.

my question is, are they just taking the easy way out or did she just up and die?

i feel bad for the buyer. if it was several weeks later, i would have told him it's too bad, but it was the next day. also, it's an older, responsible guy so i don't think he was peeling out or anything. i told him i would pay for the tow and chk out.

i finally got them to agree to put it up on a lift and chk it out a little further, and i should have an answer monday. thanks for your input.

mad1 · #2 08-21-2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqua190

well, i needed something bigger so i sold my 190e 2.6. 91, 98k. never any problems. had it about a year and a half. when i got it i changed all fluids, went over her good. haven't touched it since except for oil change. no problems at all, no leaks, no puddles, nary a hiccup.

well, sold her on tues. on wed, new owner called and said the trans wouldn't shift. i couldn't believe it so he came by and we went for a drive. sure enough, starts in 2nd, wont up shift. can manually shift from 1 to 2 but no further. had it towed to an independent mercedes shop for a look see. they drove it around the block and said i should probably look into a used or rebuilt trans. i thought they would at least want to chk pressures, drop the pan, chk the linkages or the infamous bowden cable. i told them i didn't mind paying for the check out.

my question is, are they just taking the easy way out or did she just up and die?

i feel bad for the buyer. if it was several weeks later, i would have told him it's too bad, but it was the next day. also, it's an older, responsible guy so i don't think he was peeling out or anything. i told him i would pay for the tow and chk out.

i finally got them to agree to put it up on a lift and chk it out a little further, and i should have an answer monday. thanks for your input.

Wow, that was pretty decent of you. Usually it's buyer beware, especially with a 15-year old car. What are you going to do if it needs a trans?

aqua190 · #3 08-22-2006, 08:30 PM

not sure. hoping it's an adjustment or something. if it needs a trans, maybe offer to split the repairs.

like i said, it it had been 2 or 3 weeks later, it'd be another story. but it was the next day. i just couldn't tell him too bad. that would be bad karma.

smk_texas · #4 08-23-2006, 01:49 AM

Hi aqua190,

I had the same problem with my 400e last year. Is the weather very humid up there where you live ??? Last year about the same time here july/aug(Dallas ,TX) the weather was extremely humid and it wont shift past 2. I had it towed to the mechanic and when he test drove it the next day it was shifting fine. There could be some condensation/impurity that the humidity exposes which otherwise wouldn't show up. Try changing the tranny fluid /clean out the pan and make sure the gasket it torqued to the correct specs. After that I never had a problem with the car.

regards
smk_texas

jeff-abalone · #5 08-23-2006, 02:15 AM

You mean only drive in 2 gear.... can not upshift (even delay upshift)???

I will double check the tranny fluid.... is it too much??? then, may be change the vaccum valve. Make sure don't put too much tranny fluid.... it will form the bubble and effect delay upshift. If your tranny never skip and run fine, should not be any problem suddenly.

Good luck

slk230red · #6 08-23-2006, 09:13 AM

Make sure the vacuum line is connected to the Vacuum Modulator. I had to replace the VM on the 190 2.3 when it started leaking.
Your problem sounds like what happened to my wife years ago with her '82 240D. She was leaving a mall and the car wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear. She raised the hood and saw a small vacuum hose disconnected...so she pushed it back on the connector and the car shifted fine. I replaced the hose and no more problems.

Good Luck,

Dave

mctwin2kman · #7 08-23-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slk230red

Make sure the vacuum line is connected to the Vacuum Modulator. I had to replace the VM on the 190 2.3 when it started leaking.
Your problem sounds like what happened to my wife years ago with her '82 240D. She was leaving a mall and the car wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear. She raised the hood and saw a small vacuum hose disconnected...so she pushed it back on the connector and the car shifted fine. I replaced the hose and no more problems.

Good Luck,

Dave

Damn! You must have been so proud of her. Most wives would have just kept going or called and crabbed.

slk230red · #8 08-23-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mctwin2kman

Damn! You must have been so proud of her. Most wives would have just kept going or called and crabbed.

Yes, I was very proud of her....it just so happened there was a Florida State Trooper driving by that stopped to help her. He said he didn't know anything about cars, but he could call someone if she wanted. She kept poking her head around looking for something unusual and saw a vacuum hose off of a Y connector. After connecting the hose she closed the hood and told the Trooper that might be the problem. He just stood there shaking his head while she left shifting through the gears with a smile on her face.

I always have her look over the engine compartment with me and make note of what the different components are and what they do. I warn her that there might be test later, so pay attention.

aqua190 · #9 08-23-2006, 09:24 PM

well, got the news today. the mech told me he was sure it was internal. said 2250 for a rebuild. is he off his rocker? is it worth looking for a used trans?

talked to the new owner today and he said if it was 1000-1200 he'd kick in half. i thought that was rather good of him.

JamesDean · #10 08-23-2006, 10:47 PM

im sorry to hear the bad news...maybe look around for a used transmission?

Adsitco has the following for the 190e 2.6

Transmissions - Rebuilt - 190E 2.6 : 1987-93
Part Number: RT-722.409
Rebuilt : $1,550.00 Online : $1,395.00
Core Deposit : $300.00
Item Description : 1987-93

I'm sure there's more places online that you can get a rebuilt trans from...thats the only one I could think of off the top of my head.

Good Luck to You,

Kris

smk_texas · #11 08-23-2006, 11:33 PM

There is one on ebay for less than $600. If i find it i'll post the link for you. From what I recall it was pulled from a car (190e) with 117 k miles on it.

smk_texas · #12 08-23-2006, 11:35 PM

Here it is :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/84-85-86-MERCEDES-BENZ-190-190E-TRANSMISSION_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33727QQihZ009QQitemZ190022259367QQrdZ1

smk_texas · #13 08-23-2006, 11:45 PM

Here is one more. Looks like they're for a 4 cyl.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-W201-190E-2-3-4cyl-automatic-transmission_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33727QQihZ018QQitemZ280021062658QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

mctwin2kman · #14 08-24-2006, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slk230red

Yes, I was very proud of her....it just so happened there was a Florida State Trooper driving by that stopped to help her. He said he didn't know anything about cars, but he could call someone if she wanted. She kept poking her head around looking for something unusual and saw a vacuum hose off of a Y connector. After connecting the hose she closed the hood and told the Trooper that might be the problem. He just stood there shaking his head while she left shifting through the gears with a smile on her face.

I always have her look over the engine compartment with me and make note of what the different components are and what they do. I warn her that there might be test later, so pay attention.

My wifes father is a back yard style mechanic, well his job is working on Industrial machines and such and AC so she has been shown all that good stuff for a while now. Plus I do all the work on the W201, not sure if I will on the W203, so I show here little things here and there in case there ever is a problem. She is pretty good but still would call me before she gets here hands dirty. Since I am a sucker and would be right there for her.....

aqua190 · #15 08-26-2006, 03:08 PM

well, found a shop that seems to know what they're doing. quoted 1200-1800 for rebuild. we'll see how it goes. new owner seems happy with this and is still offering to pay 1/2 so i don't feel too bad.