Transmission servicing

[joseph]

This will take care of the leaking O-rings, filter and fluid change, and water intake issue at the base of the filler tube.

FYI: This is for my 05 Rt (Hemi) built 10/04, I don't know how the V-6 tranny is, and you need to verify the quantity of ATF needed for servicing, before working on yours, it's your car, it's your responsibility.
If you don't feel comfortable doing this due to lack of mechanical ability, take it to the dealer, if you still have the warranty it's ok, if not they'll charge you about $250 for the following work.

You'll need:

• T-30 star socket and basic tools.
• 5.3Qts of AFT4 (syn) ($3.49/qt at Checker)
• long neck funnel
• Ramps
• Jack or Jacktstand
• Large container
• Black silicone
• 1 large O-ring, DCX dealer part# 68001278AA ($1.98) UPDATE: It's preferable to use the O-rings from the Mercedes Benz dealer, they fix the problem better, so I've heard, $3 each + tax, they call them seal rings, parts#: MBN 026997404828 and # MBN 026997414828.
• 1 small O-ring, DCX dealer part# 68001279AA ($2.30)
• 1 Transmissiom filter, dealer part# 52108325AA ($11.62)

Click on picture to make them bigger.



To start:

• Put the car on ramps, set parking brake
• support transmission with jack or jackstand
• 
• Remove the 2 middle bolts (15mm)of the crossmember
• 
• Remove crossmember by removing the 4 bolts (1/2")
• 
• Place large container under tranny pan and remove bolts with T-30 star socket (start from the rear first to let it drain as much as possible before removing the pan) (remove filler plug also)
• 
• Remove pan, clean pan, re-usable gasket and magnetic plug
• 
• Pull down on filter to remove it
• 
• Make O-ring of new filter wet with ATF4 and install new filter after all fluid has drained, just push it in making sure tab is in hole.

Now let's work on the 2 O-rings:

• Turn bayonnet lock counterclock wise (use large pliers if needed) and remove connector
• 
• Remove plug with a 7mm wrench
• 
  
• Make the 2 O-rings wet with ATF4 and replace them after cleaning the plug well (Update: Read post #11 and #18 regarding tab removal, if present, there wasn't one on mine)
• (picture of tab here, post # 17: Another leaky tranny )
• 
• Put plug back in, tighten it with 7mm wrench, put connector back in, turn bayonnet lock clockwise until it clicks (make sure it cliks or will come out over time)
• Put tranny pan back in and make bolts tight (you cannot overtighten pan and crush the gasket because the bolts have stops on them, you'll see what I mean when you remove them)

Now let's seal the base of the filler tube with silicone to prevent water from going into tranny:

• Clean base of filler tube and put silicone
• 
  

Now let's put everything back:

• Replace crossmember (put the 2 15mm bolts first to center it)
• Remove jack
• Put 5.3 Qts of ATF4 slowly (double check fluid quantity for servicing) (also check how much came out to verify quantity) (4.5 Qts came out of mine, meaning it was .8 Qt low, it was leaking more and more every day at the connector)
• 
• Screw plug back in filler tube (make sure it's tight)
• Start up the car, let it run for a minute, put it in D & R a few times, put it in P, and check under the car with the engine running to make sure there are no leaks (everything was ok on mine)
• Hopefully you didn't forget anything and now you're done.

Check again in a few days to make sure it's all good, and next time you change the oil or work under the car, double check the pan bolts to make sure they're all tight, and that nothing is leaking.

[joseph]

I'm working on checking the tranny fluid level with the dipstick DCX use, temp/level chart and digital thermometer, I'll keep you posted.

[JonzMgnm]

Beans to you, Joseph! Great write up.

[BBMagnumRTAJ]

Beans to you!

But sad to see no mopar products :(...

how much did that atf+4 cost?

[joseph]

Delete/remove thread.

[Bubba's Dragon]

Great write up !!!!

[Meister]

Great write up !!!!

Concur. Very nice job.

Beans awarded.

Suggest you update post #1 to include the part #s for the superior Mercedes Benz O-rings, which are reported to be an effective and permanent fix.

With kudos to funky, here those are:

o-ring part numbers:

mopar# = 68001279AA
MB# = A 015 997 06 45

mopar# = 68001278AA
MB# = A 015 997 05 45

[joseph]

Delete/remove thread.

[BrilliantBlackHemi]

Great writeup. Beans to you. I had the dealer fix my 5.7L and it was a pain in the butt to schedule that trip. This makes it look so easy, I could of done it myself on a Sunday. Kudos.

[Meister]

It's leaking again, very, very little, and I 'm going next week to the MB dealer to get those new, better o-rings, and it will hopefully take care of it for at least 1 year, I'll update post #1 once I know the prices.
FYI, I also got the dispstick to check the tranny fluid level, and I did a write up for the KB that is waiting to be approved, so be on the look out for "how to check your transmission fluid (NAG1)"

Great, Joseph.

I, too, have one of the tranny dipsticks but have long since forgotten all the particulars of its use. Reviewing your write-up will be much easier than digging the procedure out of the service manual again.

[fnkychkn]

It's leaking again, very, very little, and I 'm going next week to the MB dealer to get those new, better o-rings, and it will hopefully take care of it for at least 1 year, I'll update post #1 once I know the prices.
FYI, I also got the dispstick to check the tranny fluid level, and I did a write up for the KB that is waiting to be approved, so be on the look out for "how to check your transmission fluid (NAG1)"

there are no "new, better o-rings". MB & mopar parts are the same. did you follow the TSB instructions? specifically step #7.

[fnkychkn]

sorry for the confusion i may have caused with my last post.

the first time i had to replace these o-rings (almost 2 years ago), we did not have them in stock and no other local dealer stocked them. since the vehicle was from out of town and the customer needed to get back on the road, we got the o-rings from the MB dealer down the street. when i replaced them, they were identical in size and composition.

i have since replaced quite a few, always using the mopar part number and they were bagged and tagged as MB parts inside a mopar bag and tag. it has been a few months since i've had to replace any so they may not be bagged and tagged the same way now.

i got the MB part numbers from chrysler dealerconnect, where some shared parts have alternate part numbers. this is one of those shared parts.

i have seen a few high milers that did not leak but i am not sure if they have been previously repaired.

[joseph]

Delete/remove thread.

[stroguy]

Why did they have to put a damn plug down there anyway, wasn't it obvious right from the drawing board it could be a problem.

I can comment but I've said a fill about this issue. My demand letter for repayment has been sent to DCX. If they don't pay then I go to court and let a judge hear mine and many others miseries about this tranny. There are just to many leak issues...Mags, 300's, Chargers and Jeeps. Worst part is your tranny may be leaking and you won't know it. It weeps and the fluid hangs on the bottom of the pan. Oh well. Good luck and check your tranny fluid levels regularly. Ooops, I mean have the dealer do it for you.

Randy

[cadzilla74]

Thanks for clearing up the MB vs DCX shared part thingie on the O-Rings fnkychkn. Are the current rings identical to the ones from 2 years ago? My service guy told me they had been changed some from the originals. I was in no position to disagree, I was just glad they changed them out without fanfare on my car.