Mercedes W124 E300D estate - progress, or not...
Discussion
Didn't fix it.
Ran the engine for 15ish mins to get up to temp, checked the dipstick. Seemed to be below the lower 30 degree mark. Added some, let it run, checked it. Not up to the 80 marks. Added some more. Let it run. Still a little low (I think - not done it before, doing it under lights outside work). Put a little more in, and now I'm concerned I may have added too much.
Noises are still very much in attendance - a harmonic noise when accelerating, tails off when staying at a constant throttle/road speed, a grindy/meshy noise when coming gently off throttle & slowing, right to almost the point of stopping altogether.
If the car rolls forward, no throttle, on a slight hill, the noise starts.
I've got a recording in my phone, but I'm not sure it'd convey how it sounds to me.
I'm pretty sure it's gearbox or diff - it only started after they were disturbed, and relates to transmission speed in some way. It's not brakes. It's not engine. Would a diff noise happen when slowing, too?
I'll admit: I'm a little stumped, and a little dispirited.
Ran the engine for 15ish mins to get up to temp, checked the dipstick. Seemed to be below the lower 30 degree mark. Added some, let it run, checked it. Not up to the 80 marks. Added some more. Let it run. Still a little low (I think - not done it before, doing it under lights outside work). Put a little more in, and now I'm concerned I may have added too much.
Noises are still very much in attendance - a harmonic noise when accelerating, tails off when staying at a constant throttle/road speed, a grindy/meshy noise when coming gently off throttle & slowing, right to almost the point of stopping altogether.
If the car rolls forward, no throttle, on a slight hill, the noise starts.
I've got a recording in my phone, but I'm not sure it'd convey how it sounds to me.
I'm pretty sure it's gearbox or diff - it only started after they were disturbed, and relates to transmission speed in some way. It's not brakes. It's not engine. Would a diff noise happen when slowing, too?
I'll admit: I'm a little stumped, and a little dispirited.
Happy to be corrected but I don't think idling the car will warm the fluid. You need to drive it and get the fluid fully up to temp (not coolant temp) and then measure it. This is how its done on the 722.6 box anyway so I can't imagine much difference. You can extract the fluid from the dipstick tube with an oil extractor. Thats how I did mine as I couldn't get the sump plug undone!
That's a fair point - thanks.
In any case, the noise is still very much there so, whether the fluid is at about the right level or not (it's at least close), the noise isn't for lack of fluid.
I don't know if it helps any diagnosis that, when moving into neutral when rolling, the noise is the same. I'm assuming the propshaft is decoupled from transmission at that stage, so it'd rule the transmission out(?), leaving the culprits to be propshaft, centre bearing (despite it being new) or the diff.
But I'm happy to be told I'm wrong.
In any case, the noise is still very much there so, whether the fluid is at about the right level or not (it's at least close), the noise isn't for lack of fluid.
I don't know if it helps any diagnosis that, when moving into neutral when rolling, the noise is the same. I'm assuming the propshaft is decoupled from transmission at that stage, so it'd rule the transmission out(?), leaving the culprits to be propshaft, centre bearing (despite it being new) or the diff.
But I'm happy to be told I'm wrong.
Northbrook said:
That's a fair point - thanks.
In any case, the noise is still very much there so, whether the fluid is at about the right level or not (it's at least close), the noise isn't for lack of fluid.
I don't know if it helps any diagnosis that, when moving into neutral when rolling, the noise is the same. I'm assuming the propshaft is decoupled from transmission at that stage, so it'd rule the transmission out(?), leaving the culprits to be propshaft, centre bearing (despite it being new) or the diff.
But I'm happy to be told I'm wrong.
I managed to shut my w201 up with a couple of changes of the diff oil. As always, start with the cheapest fixes* and hope for the best! In any case, the noise is still very much there so, whether the fluid is at about the right level or not (it's at least close), the noise isn't for lack of fluid.
I don't know if it helps any diagnosis that, when moving into neutral when rolling, the noise is the same. I'm assuming the propshaft is decoupled from transmission at that stage, so it'd rule the transmission out(?), leaving the culprits to be propshaft, centre bearing (despite it being new) or the diff.
But I'm happy to be told I'm wrong.
I'll organise for the car to go somewhere else this coming week. There's a place up the road from work that saw the car in January and provided some insight & prices (although some seemed a little odd), so I may take it there for an opinion on the transmission noise.
Car has sat since Tuesday, and was really quite damp inside. Clearly the water ingress problem hasn't diminished.
I attacked the front door seals with Sikaflex 221 this afternoon. Bit of a bugger to get the driver's one back in again afterwards, for some reason. Hopefully they'll stay in place this time.
Car has sat since Tuesday, and was really quite damp inside. Clearly the water ingress problem hasn't diminished.
I attacked the front door seals with Sikaflex 221 this afternoon. Bit of a bugger to get the driver's one back in again afterwards, for some reason. Hopefully they'll stay in place this time.
Right.
Car is in with a transmission place in Reading that was recommended by my local MOT place (which doesn't touch auto trans). I'm reserving judgement, but the company seems professional so far.
Door seals aren't right yet.
Water ingress will be next on my list (if petrol & matches doesn't feature first) as it's really interfering with my enjoyment of the car.
Further info on the transmission problem once it's known...
Car is in with a transmission place in Reading that was recommended by my local MOT place (which doesn't touch auto trans). I'm reserving judgement, but the company seems professional so far.
Door seals aren't right yet.
Water ingress will be next on my list (if petrol & matches doesn't feature first) as it's really interfering with my enjoyment of the car.
Further info on the transmission problem once it's known...
The transmission problem..... is, apparently, an exhaust problem.
I'll speak with them more tomorrow, but apparently it's not to do with gearbox, propshaft, diff or driveshafts, and they think it's somewhere/something to do with the exhaust.
Me puzzled that those noises aren't transmission-related; me relieved that they might be more easily sorted.
I'll speak with them more tomorrow, but apparently it's not to do with gearbox, propshaft, diff or driveshafts, and they think it's somewhere/something to do with the exhaust.
Me puzzled that those noises aren't transmission-related; me relieved that they might be more easily sorted.
Well, I've now had three opinions, all different. Transmission place said it was around the exhaust area (presumably at the back), next place said propshaft or diff, last place says gearbox. I'm on my way to collect the car (again) now, and will ask some questions as to why they think that.
My current thinking is output shaft of the gearbox.
Other than that, the car is letting in too much water, the Sikaflex on the door seals hasn't worked (operator error, I assume), and the car still needs a tickle of throttle to get it through its first couple of minutes.
Any of these alone I could cope with, but the whole lot combined is getting me down a little.
To quote r129sl: sodding cars.
My current thinking is output shaft of the gearbox.
Other than that, the car is letting in too much water, the Sikaflex on the door seals hasn't worked (operator error, I assume), and the car still needs a tickle of throttle to get it through its first couple of minutes.
Any of these alone I could cope with, but the whole lot combined is getting me down a little.
To quote r129sl: sodding cars.
Got to admit, you're not having a good time with this car, are you. Obviously, the thing to do is take this one off the road so you can spend time going through all the issues yourself and learning as you go, while buying another one to run around in while the first one is fixed. At least the aim is to have one working car at any time. I think I'm on a record at the moment of two out of three cars more or less 100%. Good thing too, most of the third car is in my loft presently 
It's been more challenging than I was expecting! Maybe I should have had that burgundy Boxster S instead...
So. Either I didn't drive the car for long enough yesterday before checking, or it wasn't too high anyway, or there's a decent leak.... but the ATF fluid wasn't too high. I'll have another look when I have time - I think there's too much fluid, which is changing the shift points (and not in a good way).
The car is on the drive now, and will remain there until I have a solution mapped out.
I have been offered a five speed box from a car being broken locally. I suspect I'd also need the propshaft & diff from that car, because the final drive will likely be different.... won't it?
So. Either I didn't drive the car for long enough yesterday before checking, or it wasn't too high anyway, or there's a decent leak.... but the ATF fluid wasn't too high. I'll have another look when I have time - I think there's too much fluid, which is changing the shift points (and not in a good way).
The car is on the drive now, and will remain there until I have a solution mapped out.
I have been offered a five speed box from a car being broken locally. I suspect I'd also need the propshaft & diff from that car, because the final drive will likely be different.... won't it?
Little update.
- Driver's door seal changed back to the old one. I think the new one is fine, but the profile is a bit bigger so keeps being yanked out of its channel. Old one was a challenge to refit, but is back in and doing the job without fuss. I'll keep the new one for a time when I have fewer other problems to fiddle with.
- Ran around for a while, checked the ATF and I think it was significantly too high. Hoiked some fluid out with the nifty cheap fluid transfer pump I got on ebay - seconds to do. I think it's at about the right level now, and I think the box is behaving better for it, but with a temporarily (I hope) duff ear and the transmission noise, it's hard to tell. I do think it's changing in about the places I'm used to.
- Inspected the window seals. I think the door seals, which I recently replaced, are mildly too long in places, so not sitting quite flat. I'll have to get them out (carefully) and trim them a little. As for the other seals, they look reasonably okay but clearly there's a leak (or series of leaks) so the hunt will continue. One rear light has some water in it, so that's a puzzle. I'll probably aim to dig out any old sealant - I suspect someone's had a go before - and bung in some new stuff on the loadspace seals. If I can track down the entry point(s), I can plan from there. I'll also aim to clean up the boot seals - I do have a new boot seal to go on, but I hear it's a bugger.
- While fiddling with the driver's door seal, I replaced the rubber damper thing on the check strap. The old one was looking past its best. I've got replacements for the other doors.
- Removed the sad remains of the old bonnet front insulation, treated some surface rust & primed. I'll get some paint on, then fit the new piece.
- Noticed a couple of missing or damaged rubbers on the bonnet. One is from the bonnet side of the bonnet catch, the other is on the side of the (facelift) grille. If anyone has part numbers for them, I'd be grateful - struggling to track them down.
Lastly, the car is going back to my Man on Friday, so he can look into the noise while I'm away. Hopefully he can work out what it is. I'm still pondering the idea of the five-speed box, but I'm hoping it'll be a cheap fix (for me at least).
- Driver's door seal changed back to the old one. I think the new one is fine, but the profile is a bit bigger so keeps being yanked out of its channel. Old one was a challenge to refit, but is back in and doing the job without fuss. I'll keep the new one for a time when I have fewer other problems to fiddle with.
- Ran around for a while, checked the ATF and I think it was significantly too high. Hoiked some fluid out with the nifty cheap fluid transfer pump I got on ebay - seconds to do. I think it's at about the right level now, and I think the box is behaving better for it, but with a temporarily (I hope) duff ear and the transmission noise, it's hard to tell. I do think it's changing in about the places I'm used to.
- Inspected the window seals. I think the door seals, which I recently replaced, are mildly too long in places, so not sitting quite flat. I'll have to get them out (carefully) and trim them a little. As for the other seals, they look reasonably okay but clearly there's a leak (or series of leaks) so the hunt will continue. One rear light has some water in it, so that's a puzzle. I'll probably aim to dig out any old sealant - I suspect someone's had a go before - and bung in some new stuff on the loadspace seals. If I can track down the entry point(s), I can plan from there. I'll also aim to clean up the boot seals - I do have a new boot seal to go on, but I hear it's a bugger.
- While fiddling with the driver's door seal, I replaced the rubber damper thing on the check strap. The old one was looking past its best. I've got replacements for the other doors.
- Removed the sad remains of the old bonnet front insulation, treated some surface rust & primed. I'll get some paint on, then fit the new piece.
- Noticed a couple of missing or damaged rubbers on the bonnet. One is from the bonnet side of the bonnet catch, the other is on the side of the (facelift) grille. If anyone has part numbers for them, I'd be grateful - struggling to track them down.
Lastly, the car is going back to my Man on Friday, so he can look into the noise while I'm away. Hopefully he can work out what it is. I'm still pondering the idea of the five-speed box, but I'm hoping it'll be a cheap fix (for me at least).
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