Well I got the bug and bought an 1988 MB 190E 2.3 ~150,000miles (odometer broken) with an automatic for $900 (not my primary mode of transportation). Body is very clean, interior is also in good shape.
The reason the price was so low is that the transmission would flare-up between 2nd & 3rd after about approximately 15 minutes of driving (mostly rural). Took it to a shop were I had them check the vacum modulator- no leaks. They then replaced the fluid (no flush) & filter and to my sorrow they reported that fourth gear (overdrive) is now not engaging.
They drained a litlle fluid out of the trans. and replaced it with some "SeaFoam- TransTune", they reported having seen no "foreign" bits and that the fluid looked good. According to them, it now shift into fourth at times but this is not consistent.
I am going to pay the bill and drive it on short trips hoping that eventualy this transmission will "fix" itself magically.....alright I believe in Santa also.
Does anyone have any ideas (aside from spending thousands more $) that might bring this trans. back to some degree of "normal" operation?
Cheers,
Thierry (Terry)
Last edited by thierry662 : 10-29-2006 at 09:42 AM.
Reason: Change title to get more hits.
what do you want, Automatic or Manual? 16vlv Getrag? 2.3 style? 2.6 style? it is allreally on what you want. I saw a transmission go for free a couple weeks back buyer only needed to pay shipping because they guy could no longer hold the thing due to lack of space.
Yes, a manual would be my preference, but after spending money to convert to a manual it would probably cost me considerably more than getting rebuilt ($1400) with one year warranty OR two years warranty if you spend an extra ($250) for a new torque convertor. Include labor and shipping. Thoughts, comments are appreciated.
Hi Thierry, Welcome to the forum by the way. When you had the gearbox oild drained/refilled did they renew the filter inside th box or has it been replaces recently. 2 reasons I mention this. 1) The filter may be blocked reducing oil pressure. 2) It is possible when changing the filters to inadvertantly leave the old sealing rings on the valve chest that may leak giving the same effect.
I think the gearbox cable at the throttle linkage has some bearing of shift quality maybe this is not adjusted correctly.
I am not too hot on auto gearboxes just thinking outloud really.
From Kent ay? I lived in the UK from 1973-1981, before coming to the USA. Boarding School most of it though. Thanks for the welcome.
I`m going to mention your idea to my mechanic see what he thinks. I`m starting to resign myself to the idea that I will spend around $1600 for a rebuilt with a 2 year warranty....now all I need to do is start saving.
Cheers,
Thierry
Last edited by thierry662 : 11-02-2006 at 10:55 PM.
Linear Mode
