liquid drop beneath the car - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ktlimq · #1 11-01-2003, 01:38 AM

1992 Mercedes 300D

When I drive the car, park, and then see beneath the car,
I find liquid on the ground.

The location: below a little front from the auto gear stick.

Due to the location of the drop, I suspected transmission leak. So I put napkins on the ground.

The napkins looked wet with transparent liquid (plus dirt on the ground), not pinky liquid (transmission fluid is pinky).

Is something wrong, or is this liquid drop normal?

AMG CE 36 · #2 11-01-2003, 04:14 AM

Have you used the AC my first guess is condensed water, which naturally continues to come a couple of minutes after you park. Besides that, most liquids have either smell, color or taste that can be identified.
L.

ktlimq · #3 11-01-2003, 09:19 AM

It is was somewhat cold. So I did not use AC.

Last midnight I put napkins on the gound, and removed the napkins.

Now 8:30 AM, there is new water at the same spot on the ground.
The color is still transparent. Not pinky.

The transmission pan gasket was replaced by dealer due to leak. After a week, the dealer said it leaks again and replaced transmission pan.

AMG CE 36 · #4 11-01-2003, 10:57 AM

Can it be diesel fuel ? (should smell)
Or water dripping from a slight leak in the exhaust system ? (no smell)
I can not think of more transparent fluids?
Did you use the "defog" button on your AC, this will also create water.
Tranny oil will probably look almost transparent in small amounts.

Put a tray with clean water under and see if the dripping creates some oily film or pattern if you dont like to taste it as is...
L.

ktlimq · #5 11-01-2003, 08:55 PM

I just put a cup below the car.

I put a little water in the cup.

By the way, I just saw a drop of liquid (not yeat dropped, but still atached on the bottom of the car. It was pink!

The dealer repaired the leak twice. For the second repair they did not charge labour cost.

If transmission fluid is leakking, shall I go to dealer to save labour cost, or go to a good indipendent to save time?

I also heard that it is wise to live with some tranny leak, if the amount of leak is not big. I am unable to decide whether the amount is big or small.

I did not ask anything about tranny leak, but dealer himself found leak and recommended repair.
10/9/2003. Replaced transmission pan gasket at dealer.
oil filter $18
gasket, valve $7
transmission $3.99 X 7
ring, general $0.4 X 2
carb clnr $3.9

Dealer found it was leaking again.
10/17/2003. Replaced transmission pan at the dealer.
oil pan $68

joel · #6 11-02-2003, 03:11 AM

i'd bring it back to the dealer. they ought to fix it
again.

ktlimq · #7 11-02-2003, 12:16 PM

I checked my cup this morning.

On top of water, pink circle was formed.

Trannsmission fluid leaks again.

My worry is that the delaer may do the job improperly again. They did the tranny job twice, but it leakes again.

The dealer also did the left roof trim job wrong. They reclipped it but they did not match the rubber. I complained that water can go in and cause corrosion. The dealer readjusted it (pulled the rubber), but it looked a little different from the original (right roof trim).

ktlimq · #8 11-10-2003, 07:59 PM

I dropped off my car at the dealer this morning.

I am much concerned about the labor cost.

I did not ask leak inspection (my car went through 15000miles maintenance about 1.5 month ago at an independent - no leakage found -), but the dealer found transmission leak and replaced transmission pan gasket 10/9/2003. Then the dealer found leak again and replaced transmission pan 10/17/2003 (no labor charge this time).

Now I found transmission fluid leak and visited the dealer again. This is third time for transmission leak.

Dealer said he cleaned transmission and engine to clearly track where it leaks.

He is waiting for the engine and transmission to dry. He will say something tomorrow.

On the phone this evening, I emphasized that it was the dealer who found leak and suggested transmission pan gasket replacement to fix the leak.

He responded that the leak might be due to something else.

What happens if the dealer says there is leakage somewhere else and wants to charge labor cost for the repair?

I want to hear your opinion, please.

In this case, I may consider not having the job done at the dealer and go to an independent.

Do you think I am too bad a customer if I do so?

Of course, they spent time to inspect the problem. So I feel somewhat guilty to go elsewhere after they said they found the cause of the leak.

However, because the dealer did not locate the cause of leak correctly at the first time and at the second time, I had to waste time and money. I had the inconvenience: unable to use the car several days.

==================

I had an accident a while ago. My car's front hit a Hondas right side (from just front of the front wheel to the middle of the rear door).

Can that cause transmission leak?

My car had only scratches on the front bumper and crumpled and removed front number plate.

gemoore · #9 11-10-2003, 08:38 PM

Seek out a good independent. You should not be having all of these problems after taking the car to the dealer.

I doubt that the accident has anything to do with your problem. Unless, of course, the Honda owner is angry and is dropping Honda "blood" on your napkins at night while you sleep. I can't imagine that.

ktlimq · #10 11-11-2003, 06:41 PM

The dealer charges labor cost.

The dealer says that the leak is from reaction valve plugs.

There are two seals on top of the transmission. To do the work, they have to remove the transmission.

They say that this is different job from the previous transmission pan work.
So they are going to charge labor cost.

They estimates total $750 - removing transmission, repair valve plugs, and reseal transmission.

I complained why they did not find the leak at the reaction valves on 10/3/03.
I came to dealer three times. Each time, my car had to be at the dealer a few ~ several days.

They said there are many points that can have leak. At that time, there was leak from transmission pan. So they did transmission pan work. Now they found leak elsewhere.
They also say that the transmission number indicates that my car ran 226 k miles on the original transmission.

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Question 1.

Shall I have the job done at this dealer or not?

What if it leaks again after two weeks at other seal, and they charge new labor cost?

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Question 2.

To save future labor cost, once they remove the transmission (a lot of labour cost), shall I require other things such as pump O ring, pump O ring gasket, engine rear main seal, etc.?

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Question 3.

How long can I live with the leak without repairing it?

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ktlimq · #11 04-05-2004, 11:49 PM

Now I do not see tranny leak anymore.

I went to the same dealer.
They replaced reaction valve and shifter rod o-rings and bushing.
$660 labour and $31.55 parts.
It was last November. My car was at the dealer several days.

william rogers · #12 04-06-2004, 02:16 AM

every time you need work done on your MB write "Dealer BAD,wants my money) sixty times.

Nine time out of ten transmission leaks are from the pan. It is very easy to over tighten the bolts holding the transmission pan on(even for a Dealer tech in a spotless uniform) ,once done no number of new gaskets help with out a new pan (under a hundred dollars). I would sure find a good Indy. "Dealer BAD,wants my money".............

William Rogers.........