There is a connection between the shifter and the tranny that you might have missed. Check out my pdf attachement, or search the W210 forum for valve body/conductor plate repairs.

 

response to Andrzejek

Hi Andrzejek,

Thanks very much for the info. I did check the pin was in the yellow plastic u shape bracket at the end of the manual shift mechanism and verified it moving while moving the shifter in side the car.

I took the valve body out again this morning and checked all my work and the sleeves, valves and springs are all in the righ place and moving freely.

I did the same thing as you - measured the amount of ATF I drianed out - a total of 5 quarts and put exactly the same amount back in. I am wondering if I lost a quart on the cardboard in the garage and in the valve body drain pan so have made my self a dipstick and calibrating it now per the specs I found on web (54mm low hot, 64mm high hot)

I am planning to clean the electrical connector and get the residual fluid out of it then install, following with refilling the transmission - will then let car run for a half hour and check the fluid level and top off accordingly

If it still wont shift in forward and reverse I figure I am screwed as something is up with either the contactor plate or something inside the valvebody causing low pressure in the clutches - cant imagine I damaged anything as I have been sooo carefull!

I will let you know how it plays out.

If the fluid level is not the issue then I am planning on purchasing a recon valve body from eurpoeantransmissions.com.

Thanks again for your help!
Dan

 

oh yes and I used Castrol Import Multi Vehicle ATF as well. Castrol website said compatible with Mercedes 236.x ATF specification. It seems lower viscosity (a bit thinner) than what I took out of it.

I noticed you used Valvoline Maxlife. I found several Jag owners using the Castrol in their transmission, basically the same as a Mercedes transmission, a 722.6

Any thoughts on this > Unlikely the problem huh?

Praying its the level causing it otherwise Im stranded grrr!

 

problem solved!

I think it was a badly seated elcectrical connector to the transmission or a sticky valve in the valve body. I removed all valves cleaned, lubricated and excercised them, reseated everything and filled up with Castrol Import ATF with my home made dipstick - with thanks to you all on this forum.

The transmission now functions flawlesly with the Sonnax sleeve kits. Shifts like Buttah!

Relief...time for a beer!

 

Back to Japan

Man, I had a similar experience. I had my trans serviced at a MB dealer. It is a 2003 C240 with 64k miles on it. (Creampuff I thought) I noticed on the work order that MB used Shell trans fluid. I said no big deal they must know what they are doing. Right? Then I read on these forums that using MB ATF is a must. WTF!

About a month after having the tranny serviced my tranny goes out. It wont go into park. Yep, when shifting to park the c240 just keeps going forward. I shut the engine down and had it towed to the mb dealer. They told me that a clip went out in the tranny and they fixed it for free (warranty). Man I'm lucky because I only had 5 days left on my extended warranty. MB extended warranty was awesome, it saved me a ton of money on 3 different repairs.

Needless to say I couldn't take the chance of a big repair bill with my warranty expiring in 3 days.

Thus, I traded my beloved 2003 c240 in for a 2010 Honda CRV 4 wheel drive. Even though my benz only had 64k on it--I got rid of it. I no longer trusted the vehicle and I felt that it was only a matter of time before I broke down on the road and got a huge repair bill. I'm talking 3 or 4 grand.

So this is my last post here at the MB forum. From now on, I'm sticking with the trouble free Japanese Brands.

Also, I will no longer buy certified used. I'd rather have a new honda with 48 miles than a certified used benz which I can't trust.

Sorry to rant and rave but I just had to vent. Man, I hated getting rid of that Benz.

P.S. A Benz is truly a wealthy person's car--not for the working class. LOL