[DAVerchick]

I have read every thread I could find about the problem I'm having. Now I will try to put it in a nut shell for you folks and I hope someone has an idea what is going on with my '97 C230 155k miles.

In Oct'08 I had my mechanic perform a standard service, oil, plugs etc and asked him to include a trans service with filter and gasket change. Running great.
(mid '08 had the MAF problem r/r, thanks for the help)

Last week the abs and check engine lights came on the the only code from the OBD2 was P0500 - Vehicle Speed Malfunction. Car in Limp home mode - reset codes and drove the car no problems. Next morning, crank it up and the abs light stays on the P0500 code is right back. Drive in Limp home mode to the end of the street and reset, drives normal. My mechanic says it might be a low voltage problem as well and suggests a battery replacement (which I did knowing the age of the battery). He also said it might be the valve body in the trans, but when I speak to the parts house they tell me that those things just don't go bad. Also concerned about the ATF that was used at the garage so I drained and replaced the chocolate syrup with the MB Dexron iii.

When the car is started cold, and you move the shifter from P to R and you fill a clunk/jerk then the P0500 code appears and limp home mode starts. If you start the car and get a smooth shift no code.

Any suggestions would be helpful, presently obd is being used to clear so the car can be driven to work and back home twice daily.
Thanks, Dave

 

[xvvvz]

Isn't 97 the first year of the electronic tranny that needs the expensive special fluid versus the Dextron equivalent?

 

[xvvvz]

Sounds like a diagnosis with a STAR Diagnostics system is going to be worth the money. It can do a much better job at pinpointing the issue (assuming you have the newer electronic tranny).

 

[BenzMaster19]

I dont understand the part about when you got the tranny service done at the garage, then soon after that you drained the tranny fluid yourself and it was Chocolate Syrup colour?? how can that be?? So either your garage did NOT do the tranny service at all! or he did, but used veryyy poor fluid with the wrong specs and damaged your tranny, and with yours having the sensitive electronic tranny i am begining to wonder, what the heck did that mechanic do!!?? I hope your tranny is not ruined because of that.

 

[cjshade]

Dittos on Dextron III

Two weird things... First you should NOT have chocolate syrup just since Oct. 08. Second Dittos on Xvvvz's catch on the Dextron III referance. That fluid is not for the 722.6 Tranny, only the 722.4 and earlier. It will cause you problems if that is what you put in. Let's figure that one out first.

Do check your connector on the side of your Tranny for oil seepage contamination.

I wonder if your fluid is being possibly being contaminated by coolant?

Good Luck!:thumbsup:

C as in 220

Benzmaster beat me again!:bowdown:

 

[BenzMaster19]

Benzmaster beat me again!:bowdown:

Haha,, don't worry CJ you will always be the Master on this forum buddy!! you are one of the smartest person on Mercedes's I have ever met!! :thumbsup:

 

[liquidusculade]

if it was being contaminated by coolant, i believe it would be a milky white color, but could be wrong on that.

 

[DAVerchick]

No leakage at the connector that I can see. I do have a new connector but didn't replace it because I didn't want to do to much at once. I also didn't take the old one off because I am not sure how to do it yet.

I changed the atf because that was the concerned I had after putting the dip stick into the trans. When it came out brown instead of reddish I thought it would be good to change it asap.

I called it chocolate syrup because some of the other threads, and mine seemed to resemble that, smelled more like gear oil then atf, the wrong stuff or was not changed, who knows?? No real way to prove it? I did save some of the trans fluid to take back to the garage.

This is the part # that I got on the atf: 001 989 21 03 10
sound right? The bottle reads - Flussigkeitsgetriebeol (ATF) Dexron III / Dexron III-H
febi bilstein #22806

How do I check the coolant problem? Coolant level is correct.
Thanks for all your help. Dave

 

[bmeister]

I suspect you are the mechanic did not have access are were unable to drain the torque converter thus leaving some old fluid in the system. If this is a 722.6 tranny use the MB synthetic or Mobil 1 equivalent.

MercedesShopWiki: 722.6 Transmission Fluid and Filter Change

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1419467-atf-i-know-topic-has-been.html
equivalent

I was told by my Benz dealership the torque converter has no plug, I beg to differ. 5mm?

Honestly as far as the clunk issue goes I think you have a bad flex disk and a issue with the ABS system whether it is a simple brake switch or actually one of the wheel sensors but without a proper SDS scan its just a shot in the dark, that code is generic as you may or may not know. Check link below.

http://www.mercedestechstore.com/pdfs/327_traction_and_braking/327 HO 02 ABS (WJB,GC) 02-25-04.pdf

My advice as well as prior posters is to get a SDS scan done, as for your most recent question there is a fill line on the overflow tank and if you have no hose leaks, and no strawberry milkshakes in the tranny fluid you should be fine in that department. The tranny fluid can be decieving sometimes because it may look bad because of the graphite the fluid contains. Keep us posted. B

 

[cjshade]

Torque Converter Plug

The later model 202's lost the ability to drain the Torque converter. I think it was around '99 the Drain Plug dissapeared.

They're not like belly buttons, not all of us have them.

One of our M/B Tech friends on here could nail it down for us as to the cut-off date of the TQ Drain Plug.

It may be possible to add one back if you are adept with a drill and tap.

Good Luck!:thumbsup:

C as in 220

 

[xvvvz]

I looked it up before and think I posted it on one of these w202 forums but it was mid-99. September comes to mind but I can't be sure.

 

[DAVerchick]

I do have a drain plug - just have to turn the engine to find it. (once again thanks to this site!) To bad I found it after I changed the fluid, so now I might have a nice mixed up concoction of fluid in this tranny.

Do you suggest going to wally world and picking up some mobil 1 for this tranny or should I stick with the parts/dealers recommended dexronIII-H fluid?

The indie ran the scan twice and both times it came up with the same two error codes - low voltage warning, which explains the abs light coming on (per manual) and the generic P0500 speed sensor one. His code reader is the big box that was suppose to be able to look very deep into the system, unlike my little obd2 that just gives the P0500.
Next step? Do a complete drain and replace of atf and cross my fingers that it cleans out? Thanks Dave

 

[liquidusculade]

the codes you are getting done seem to really have anything to do with the transmission. if the fluid looks fine and it drives ok, figure out whats giving your codes.

 

[DAVerchick]

I'm really at a loss here - think I started with the tranny because the indie mentioned he could probably fix the problem by replacing the valve body in the tranny. Why? I have no idea.
Another reason is that the clunk/jerk that you get when shifting out of park only happens when the car/tranny is cold. I am assuming that when the fluid has a chance to fall back to the pan waiting to be picked up when you first shifted and that it might be starving for fluid. Hows my thinking or is this electronic tranny work totally different?

Isn't the tranny where the "vehicle speed malfunction, P0500" problems would come from? If not, what do you suggest?


Is there a DIY on cleaning the abs sensors or flex disc?

 

[cjshade]

ABS & Flex Disc

There are Threads showing how to replace the Brake Sensors, piece of cake and they are cheap about 2 bucks a piece. You will find it under something like Replacing Brakes or Brake Jobs.

The Flex Discs are an inspection and replace if they are cracked or damaged sort of thing. I'll see if I can dig up the recent thread on doing them for you. Your clunk symtom could be one of your Flex Discs but I would expect it to fail when warm as well. It's good to get them inspected just in case, since it can be catastrophic when they fail.

Read this whole Thread and check out the links. You will know more than you want to about Flex Discs.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1313878-replacing-tail-shaft-coupling.html

Good Luck and Welcome to the Forum:thumbsup:

C as in 220

 

[DAVerchick]

If the sensors are the same as my old 300sd (man, I miss that car/tank) no problem and cheap is right. Thanks.
Since my head is swimming in this stuff right now, I am going to put off the flex disc for the time being - agreeing that it should occur when warm also.

The MBship has verified the ATF that I have is indeed the correct fluid for the 722.6 tranny. Therefore, I will be getting a few more liters and draining both pan and TC complete - in an effort to clean away any filth from "wrong/bad/old" fluid.

While I'm under the car this time I will be replacing the spacer/connector for the tranny wire part# 203 540 02 53 - Anyone have experience getting this out? Threaded pin with no head has me baffled??

Starting to wonder how many threads I should start with this same problem? Because after reading ABS manual - pg.6 malfunction indicator lamp will illuminate to "indicate low available voltage (< 10.5 V)" - Voltage where? ...to the sensors? ...to the cluster? ...to the battery from alternate? ...to the coil?

Sure, I'm the only MB owner not sleeping at night.
Thanks for the welcome - of course I've been lurking for a couple years now with miner problems with no need to post until now.
Thanks everyone for the knowledge base and continued help.
Dave

 

[DAVerchick]

I was searching my Star Classic Service Manual Library cd today and found this piece of information, attached document.

Will someone please decipher it?
Has anyone here updated the software version on the tranny control module?
Thanks, Dave

PDF is blank - I'll try a screen shot.

 

[DAVerchick]

Remedy completely revised - Star

Sorry for the blank .pdf file and hope this screen shot is readable.
Dave

 

[liquidusculade]

i thought the speed position sensors were on the rear differential, but it is very possible im wrong about that because ive never had to deal with mine. i can try to look it up later tonight.

 

[DAVerchick]

I think the differential has the abs sensor in it and the other traction control system sensors are on the wheels. Dave