Yesterday I noticed a puddle of anti-freeze under my 1983 300SD. I opened the hood while the engine was running and spotted coolant dripping from where the upper radiator hose meets the top center area of the engine. Is this the intercooler and is it something that commonly fails/cracks and/or leaks? If I remove the hose will I lose a bunch of coolant? Thanks for any help.

Sounds pretty simple - just buy a new hose and clamps and put it on. Coolant loss should be marginal, but while your at it you really should flush and refill your coolant system and make sure you install a new thermostat

Thanks for the reply. It turned out to be *really* simple: a few turns on the hose clamp tightened that hose right up, although it does look suspiciously old. (Yes, I do feel stupid for not checking this prior to posting...) I guess not all problems are major ones. Now if I can just get the transmission shifting smoothly ...

Robert, has your tranny always shifted poorly? Does this indicate there is something wrong or are Mercedes transmissions all like this. I'm curious how I can distinguish a bad transmission from one that just shifts hard. From what I hear, MB auto transmissions commonly shift hard - but this doesn't assure me much when I am buying a used car.

Just had the transmission rebuilt on my '85-300SD and with the revs pushed to around 4000rpm everything shifts smoothly. Drop the revs and like before the rebuild (MB dealer work) the low rpm shifts still clunk a little bit going to the last two shifts.

You can adjust the shift with the modulator adjustment. Also have the vacuum system checked on top of the valve cover where the vac valves for the trans are.

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
LEAD TECHNICIAN FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

I've only had this car for a couple months. My local independent garage diagnosed a leaky rear seal, so the car does use some ATF. There is a bit of slippage when it's cold, and it takes a noticable amount of time to upshift when it's floored. Right now I'm just keeping an eye on the fluid level (when I first took it in it was two quarts low! In that condition it shifted very poorly.)

Greg, if the car you're looking at accelerates ok, and the trans upshifts firmly but not jerkily I'd say that it's ok. Mine has a noticable slippage and hesitation on upshifting. Best to drive a number of MB's to get a feel for how they are.