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babycarlsson
07-05-2003, 07:00 AM
Tranny noise you may want to inspect…

One of the reasons I sold my C, because of the noise from the tranny…

It was coming from under the car while under load (D or R, and louder with the Climate control on). I took it to the local stillership about 1 year ago, while the noise was not very loud, but still present and the car was under warranty (sounded like a diesel, just much quieter, and you can really hear it when you roll down you window while in traffic next to the side walk or a curb, I guess the noise reflects from that sidewalks). There was nothing wrong with my car (according to them).

Overtime, the noise became a little louder, so I took it another stillership, specifically asked their service rep to listen to it with me – “Oh yes, I hear it…” They called me few hours later – “All done Sir. Belt tensioner and the bearing, and we changed your serpentine belt. No more noise” I’m happy, pick up the car next day (70 miles away from my home), raining that morning, can’t hear much. Rain stopped later that day, and sure enough, the car warms up – same damn noise. $450 later, nothing is fixed!!!

I took it to my local mechanic who used to work for MB dealership for years, he had the car up on lift – the noise is coming from where the engine meet the tranny, but can not pinpoint it.

I call back to a stealership again, raised a little hell, dropped off the car again, they had it for 3 days, finally called and said that now somehow they hear the noise, but do not know what it is, can not pin point it and the only way to cure it is to replace the tranny and the torque converter – cost? $5000… Car just turned 60K miles, and I do not abuse it, drive it – yes…

I guess you can imagine how pissed off I was to find out that the repairs could have been and should have been done while the car was under warranty???


***Now that I’m done expressing my anger, the words of caution:

I met my mechanic yesterday evening, he just went through their monthly official MB service training, and he asked their regional service manager about my noise in the C, - according to the rep, it’s caused by the internal pump. While they have not seen a single tranny failing because of that, it can be replaced under warranty, but there are limitations. This replacement can only be done under 36K (despite the 50K miles warranty) - see dealer for details to confirm. Rep also stated that is becoming somewhat a common issue with their customers and with most complaints to CA stillerships…

Hope this helps! Regards,
Dmitry

C280 JR
07-05-2003, 07:14 AM
oh damn that really sucks..i guess i should stop complaining about my problems...what year is you car BTW

Elvir

babycarlsson
07-05-2003, 07:31 AM
It was 1998 C230

http://images.cardomain.com/installs/205000-205999/205992_1_full.jpg

C280 JR
07-05-2003, 07:43 AM
do you think that could be associated with the problem that the 97 mercedes are dealing with?

Elvir

Rocky
07-05-2003, 09:12 AM
The 1997 C36's uses a different tranny then the other C-classes right? I hope I don't get Tranny problems.

babycarlsson
07-06-2003, 04:59 AM
I believe that you are right Rocky, they are different (at least by looking at the shift gate)

MBATF
07-06-2003, 09:49 AM
welcome joint the club of "w202 Tranny failuer Club"!

Ozzie Bob
07-06-2003, 03:42 PM
Going to make this a 'sticky' for a week or so as this info will help A LOT of BNZSporters ;)

MidniteBluBenz
07-06-2003, 04:09 PM
Originally posted by MBATF
welcome joint the club of "w202 Tranny failuer Club"!

:werd: I finally dropped my car off at the dealership this week to install the new 'refurbed' tranny. Cost was about $3700 CDN, which isn't bad, since I've heard people spending a lot more than that.

The dealership told me that the problem with my tranny was a lose belt on 2nd gear, which was causing it to slip when switching from 2 to 3 or 3 to 2.

MBATF
07-07-2003, 12:34 AM
my cost....was...$5500.00USD

Vodka G
07-07-2003, 07:47 AM
i think the 97+ w202 tranny (with the 5 speed adaptive shift) is known to have problems

(WHEW!!! glad that i've got the 96 with the 4 speed) :o

kameraguy
07-07-2003, 09:44 AM
I also had a problem with my tranny. Clutch kit went out, causing sloppy shifting between gears. $2500 usd. Car had 94,000 miles.

My mechanic says the C36 tranny has some upgraded parts, but is still essentially the same tranny design as any MB 5sp Auto before touch shift.

MidniteBluBenz
07-08-2003, 12:33 PM
Originally posted by kameraguy
sloppy shifting between gears. $2500 usd. Car had 94,000 miles.


I had the same problem, but it was only shifting from 2 to 3. My car has 87000miles right now.

WeatherMan
07-08-2003, 01:45 PM
.

babycarlsson
07-08-2003, 03:11 PM
Iny ideas on reliability of the touch shift? I would not mind buying 2000 C280 sport - is this the first and only year of that tranny on W202?

MidniteBluBenz
07-08-2003, 05:20 PM
Originally posted by babycarlsson
Iny ideas on reliability of the touch shift? I would not mind buying 2000 C280 sport - is this the first and only year of that tranny on W202?

It's mostly been 97's, and mostly C280's. I think MBATF's car is a 98 though.

2000 and newer should be fine.

Henry47
07-09-2003, 12:48 AM
Originally posted by MidniteBluBenz


2000 and newer should be fine.

nope. i gota 2000 c280. I've been having some downshift lag at high speeds recently. Basically, I would floor it around 60 mph but i wouldn't feeel the gears 'catch" until 5k rpm. I also feeel a JOLT when the gear downshifts from 2nd to first. I dropped off my car at the dealer for the second time just this afternoon so we'll see what'll happen. Oh yea, I only have 47,000 miles on my car.

MidniteBluBenz
07-09-2003, 11:20 AM
Originally posted by Henry47
I would floor it around 60 mph but i wouldn't feeel the gears 'catch" until 5k rpm.

This used to happen to me all the time. I took it in when the car had 16000miles and they told me that's just the way it kicked down.

I asked why it didn't always do that and they gave me some cock and bull story about how hot it was outside and engine temp etc.

My dad went and spoke with the service manager today and told him that I had brought the car in several times with complaints about the tranny and now MB is giving me 50% off the price of the tranny. $1200!! The MAS also needs to be changed, but they're not giving me any discount on that.

ronald_m
07-09-2003, 12:59 PM
722.6 trans sucks

mis-u-jerr
07-09-2003, 08:47 PM
Man, between here and mbworld, it's getting mighty scary...
99 C43, still under warranty, 33K. Took it in about a month and a half ago, one of the probs was a "clunky" 2-3 3-2 shift. They replaced the sun gear, (main gear?). The trans has always been pretty whiney, but now it is extra whiney in 2nd, but intermittantly. It also doesn't seem to downshift under partial acceleration as readily as it used to (kickdown switch is OK). I don't have the slipping experienced by others.

MidniteBluBenz
07-09-2003, 10:45 PM
Originally posted by mis-u-jerr
Man, between here and mbworld, it's getting mighty scary...
99 C43, still under warranty, 33K. Took it in about a month and a half ago, one of the probs was a "clunky" 2-3 3-2 shift. They replaced the sun gear, (main gear?). The trans has always been pretty whiney, but now it is extra whiney in 2nd, but intermittantly. It also doesn't seem to downshift under partial acceleration as readily as it used to (kickdown switch is OK). I don't have the slipping experienced by others.

Get your MAS changed, it should fix your problem.

babycarlsson
07-10-2003, 03:56 PM
Originally posted by mis-u-jerr
...It also doesn't seem to downshift under partial acceleration as readily as it used to (kickdown switch is OK)...

The only way my tranny would dowshift if I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor, and I mean all the way. My MAS was changed at 49K miles, but unfortunately that did not help the downshift response in my case :(

MBATF
07-10-2003, 07:06 PM
Originally posted by MidniteBluBenz
It's mostly been 97's, and mostly C280's. I think MBATF's car is a 98 though.

2000 and newer should be fine. mine is 1999