I woukd get a AAA or other towing package coverage now.. why court failure in a remote area without backup ?
Then at least step-up to the bar and get the tranny fluid level checked at the dealer..or order the dipstick..or make one yourself (see the link below)..and check the level and the COLOR of the fluid..
You can source your own parts cheaper, then decide to either do DIY or give a independent the job...
I have a certified mech coming over tomorrow to check it out, on the phone with him he thinks it might be a censor for gear changing that might have went bad and not the tran itself.
keep your fingers crossed for me & I will keep you all updated on the results.
Thanks again for all the info.
Updates will be posted as soon as I know something.
Your certified mechanic is probably correct. He is referring to a sensor in the low gear switching motor that attaches with three bolts to the outside of the transfer case. When the car starts, it tests the motors sensor (possibly by cycling). When the sensor goes bad the computer puts the car in limp mode (second gear only). I replaced my motor a couple years back when I had my ML320 - the part was around $130 at the time and took about fifteen minutes to change out (three bolts and an electrical plug). I had no more problems after the replacement. If your certified mechanic has the equipment to read the transmission codes, he will probably see an error that says something like "transfer case motor - sensor out of range". I have the Snap-on MT2500 code reader with the 2003 Mercedes cartridge so I am able to read the transmission codes. Hope this helps.
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-02 Black ML500 w/ Sport Package
Bilstein shocks, H&R rear springs, Toyo Proxes ST tires
-98 Polar White ML320 - totaled (rear-ended by drunk driver)
Bilstein shocks, H&R rear springs, monochrome paint scheme like MY2000+ ML's, ML430 wheels w/ Falken 275-60-17 S/TZ-01 tires, MY2002+ halogen headlights
Thank you all for your replies. It happened again tonight but it felt like it was stuck in first gear, I had the take off power (kind of) but it would not shift.
I pulled over and put it in park, shut it off and when I turned it back on it was fine.
Still looking for more thoughts.
Thank you.
Over the years that I owned my '99 it did the exact same thing three different times. I crossed my fingers and ignored it. Out of the six years I owned it those were the only times it did it. It never left me stranded but you may not be as lucky. So far so good with my '03. Good luck.
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ED - '03 ML320 & '97 C280 (Wife's car)
Your certified mechanic is probably correct. He is referring to a sensor in the low gear switching motor that attaches with three bolts to the outside of the transfer case. When the car starts, it tests the motors sensor (possibly by cycling). When the sensor goes bad the computer puts the car in limp mode (second gear only). I replaced my motor a couple years back when I had my ML320 - the part was around $130 at the time and took about fifteen minutes to change out (three bolts and an electrical plug). I had no more problems after the replacement. If your certified mechanic has the equipment to read the transmission codes, he will probably see an error that says something like "transfer case motor - sensor out of range". I have the Snap-on MT2500 code reader with the 2003 Mercedes cartridge so I am able to read the transmission codes. Hope this helps.
Good news (I hope) turns out it's a turbine input sensor that tells the tranny when to shift. I just have to find the part and the cost of the part. He will install it for $50.
Quite a scare but I'm sleeping better knowing it's just a sensor and not the tranny itself.
Thank you all again for your input.
I love this forum.
I'll keep ya posted.
Good news (I hope) turns out it's a turbine input sensor that tells the tranny when to shift. I just have to find the part and the cost of the part. He will install it for $50.
Quite a scare but I'm sleeping better knowing it's just a sensor and not the tranny itself.
Thank you all again for your input.
I love this forum.
I'll keep ya posted.
Same thing Happened to me on my 99ML 430, and it eneded up being a Conductor Plate Issue and cost me $1100.00 CDN to fix.
That included new tranny oil and filter and something the advisor called "Re Coding the Tranny" from a Benz Dealership. I did get a 15% discount though.
After all that my ML feels more sluggish than ever but it changes gears again.
Hope it's just a sensor for you I wans't that lucky even though I had the same input/speed sensor fault code.
Update as promised.
Ended up being the Electric plate in the transmission, $185 (with mechanics discount)
Gasket $16.58
Trans filter $ 19.39
Lock pin $1.60 (didn't need)
Trans fluid (WOW) 4 quarts at $15.51 each= 62.04
Total parts 293.72 (tax $16.63)
Mechanic labor (said it would take two hours, actually took over 8) $0
After putting all the parts in there was no change in the vehicles performance, he took the ML to a shop with the proper computers, reset the codes and all was well.
All in all I was quoted $700 + for the repairs and after it is all said and done I spent about $300 ($100l labor) for the fix. Now I have my own personal mechanic that will come to my house and fix my ML in my garage and his labor is cheap cheap cheap. (yay for me) haha
Truck is like new and I saved a bundle, if anyone has issues like this PM me and I can give you a heads up, I was under the truck with the mech and from what I saw I could have done myself. Not a hard job.
Thanks again for all the input, all went well and I saved myself approximately $300.
Gotta love it.
Dan
Last edited by dannyqball_817 : 11-03-2007 at 09:16 PM.
Nope, never had a leak. ML has 162.000 miles on it, parts wear out and this time it was the electric plate. (easy job actually )
Learned a lot from this one.
Linear Mode
