Worst luck SPRINTER

greg334 · Nov 16, 2009

I just remembered something, my dodge with my baby cummins also has a shudder when the converter locks up at 40. I know that this is not caused by the trans but the engine, more specifically the IP. Because the engine is running at low rpms and the turbo isn't spooling up to speed enough to produce any real significant pressure in the intake and the compensation system within the IP is causing it to shuttle between increasing and decreasing the fuel - hence a 'shutter' of sorts happening. This didn't happen with my '98 (24 valve electronic IP) because the computer took care of the fueling maps and compensated for this.

Steady, what you posted makes me think that there is a mapping change that can be made or a lock up adapter that I made for my truck can be adapted for the sprinter.

aileron · Nov 16, 2009

Steady, how many miles were on yours when it went?

RLENT · Nov 16, 2009

Steady Eddie said:
I have noticed the RSN after I unloaded a heavy load, but after a few miles it goes away. Maybe the computer learning all over as I do drive a little different with heavy loads. Changing the fluids sooner than 80,000 miles has helped somewhat.

Eddie,

Interesting point you raise above - I recently had a long load (1000+ miles) that was fairly heavy (near GVW), that I drove hard (70 mph, in mountainous terrain)

After I unloaded, I noticed some very odd transmission behavior - two things:

1. On starting the vehicle up, and initially when driving (within 1st ten minutes), the transmission would shudder significantly at very slow speeds, coasting with foot off the pedal. This went away fairly quickly but returned after the vehicle was turned off and then restarted much later (next day)

2. The vehicle developed a slight but definitely noticable shudder which could be felt through the steering wheel - this was present at all speeds.

Both items have decreased, as I have continued to drive the vehicle - probably has at least 5K miles on it since the heavy load - and I would say that No. 2 has pretty much gone away entirely. No 1. is still present to a degree, occasionally.

When it started to occur it was pretty alarming - considering the load I had just hauled.

The transmission adaptives (learned operations based on driving behavior), are two fold - permanent and temporary. The permanent ones never go away apparently - unless the stored adaptives are reset with a DRB-III scan tool (and even then I'm not sure that they can be entirely reset) The temporary adaptives are reset every time the vehicle is turn off.

Great find on the post by Doktor A by the way - don't think I had ever seen that one.

The part I culled on the TCC clutch engagement was from the service manual - which actually contradicts itself - one place (page 1218) it says TCC engagement occurs in 3rd thru 5th, another place (page 1223) it says 2nd thru 5th. Apparently neither are correct.

DannyD · Nov 16, 2009

I'd put ya as a contender except that ya do have a few miles on the thing. I had rotten luck w/ my Sprinter too a few years back. Not like you've had, but enough that I'll never get another one. I worked for a company that had a lot of Sprinter drivers at the time. EGL, which is now CEVA.

I'd heard all kinds of horror stories about those things. $5000 repair jobs at 50K miles or $2000 repair jobs at 80K miles, those kinds of things. Mine had about 30K on it & it had a lot of things go wrong up to that point. So I def. had the heeby jeebies for what I was in for in terms of repairs coming up.

The flip side is I guess a fair amount of members from here are doing just fine in theirs. So maybe Dodge/Mercedes got their act together & fixed a lot of the things. I dunno.

It's definately not good to read when someone has challenges. So for that I'm sorry for what ya had to go thru.

Steady Eddie · Nov 16, 2009

aileron said:
Steady, how many miles were on yours when it went?

It went around 325,000 miles. I think the fact that I had the tranmission line break twice by the belt had a lot to do with the early replacement.

breeze · Nov 16, 2009

I APPRECIATE all the intellegent input from everybody and willkeep you posted, this could take awhile and im thinkin torque converter like Greg but we will check out everything and this sprinter will ride again it has to cause i owe12500 on this 06 and she has 317000 miles not good numbers; 500000 should get it done??? MAY GOD TAKE A LIKEN TO YOU ALL.

danthewolf00 · Nov 16, 2009

lets see had to replace the u-joints at 125k only you need to replace the driveshaft to do that(last year). now i have just had the egr valve and dpf and intake swirl valve.
egr\dpf\intake swirl valve total cost was $9137
driveshaft\u-joint was $1100
total cost todate is $10,237
at least the loaner van was free

dhalltoyo · Nov 16, 2009

Are these "Rumble Strip" issues related to the 5 cyl inline engine only, or are they also found in the V-6 engines?

OntarioVanMan · Nov 17, 2009

danthewolf00 said:
lets see had to replace the u-joints at 125k only you need to replace the driveshaft to do that(last year). now i have just had the egr valve and dpf and intake swirl valve.
egr\dpf\intake swirl valve total cost was $9137
driveshaft\u-joint was $1100
total cost todate is $10,237
at least the loaner van was free

IN BOLD....Was NOT the Sprinters fault...

RLENT · Nov 17, 2009

dhalltoyo said:
Are these "Rumble Strip" issues related to the 5 cyl inline engine only, or are they also found in the V-6 engines?

David,

I believe they occur in both - since they both use the same tranny. However, my only experience is with my 5 cylinder. Perhaps piper1 or danthewolf can answer if they have experienced it as well.

piper1 · Nov 17, 2009

The rumble strip noise is not totally eliminated but is much improved over the 5cyl. I notice it when you are coasting down on an off ramp and you lightly graze the accelerator to get you thru the corner or uphill a bit. If you give it a bit more fuel it downshifts and the noise is gone. It does indeed correspond to low rpm, TCC close to locked and the engine under load (a small one). I believe the condition is reduced because under those kinds of conditions, the EGR engine is gasping and will downshift out of it where the 5 cyl would roll on the torque (like a diesel should!!)

FIS53 · Nov 17, 2009

FYI most units in europe are sold with standard transmissions. Few are sold with automatics unless MB has changed its vehicle offerings. Same for the Volkswagen LT (almost exact same van but uses TDI engine).
Some of the RSN was cured or extremely reduced in several units by topping up the trans fluid as they were shipped from the factory short a quart. Of course you'll need a dip stick but of course MB deems this part a non essential for an owner of a commercial vehicle.
Rob