There are a few of them on fleabay. I don't know if this is the correct one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/32540148356...86.c101224.m-1

 

OK, time for an update! I sent my valve body down to Sunbelt transmissions in Florida land. Fabian has been very helpful.



Rebuilt valve body



invoice including a nifty neat pen

Details on price including a new electrical conductor plate.

600 including shipping both ways, upgraded shift kit, electrical conductor plate, and replaced valves.


I got everything back together, filled up the fluid, started the car and I have a weird issue. Now I have not confirmed this with the shift indicated on the dash. Yes I should have looked but I forgot.
When I put the car in neutral, it starts reversing. I have not put it back into drive as I don't want to brake the shift valve again. Looking at the parts list for the shift linkage, I see something that could be the issue, a set screw (9) in the picture below.


crossfire shifter auto


OK Here is the question, could the tranny linkage got out of position causing my problem?

 

You do not have the shift valve properly engaged with the shift lever. You'll need to pull the pan and inspect.

 

Saying the same thing as nemiro in a different way: the detents internal to the case must be in there proper place relative to the main shift valve and in their position relative to the shift lever in the drivers compartment.

 

 

I payed close attention to the placement of the level and the external shift lever. I wished I had taken a picture. What really bothers me, if the car was place in park, that means the idents should be in the park position. So I wondered if the lever at the transmission got out of place?

 

It is not impossible that the adjustment in the shift arm, at the shifter came loose, but I have never seen it happen. More than likely the little arm in the diagram is not in the shift valve plastic slot properly.

 

When I put the valve body back into the transmission, I did put the pin back into the valve selector correctly. I wish I had taken a picture before closing it back up.
Talking to the transmission guy who did the valve body repair, he said there are two grommets/bushings that wear out. I found I was missing the one on the transmission gear selector lever. I did order a replacement kit. Here is the part number and picture:
mercedes-shift-lever-bushing-kit-febi-genuine-mercedes



While waiting for the replacement, I made a temporary bushing from nylon bushing from ACE hardware. It took out the play. However the car runs backwards in neutral and does not engage into drive. I got the UCANIC diagnostic tool.


yes it's very confused

So the only option I can think of is to check the gear indent inside the transmission. It clamps to the external level for shifting gears.



722.6 NAG1 gear indent

I think pretty much I am back to draining fluid and opening up the transmission again.

 

Since my car is not shifting correctly, I opened up the drain pan to look at the valve body and the valve shifter selector.

The pin was placed correctly.


Detent plate, pin, and shift selector valve

The detent plate in park




The detent plate in drive

detent plate in drive


Comparing the two photos you can see it's travel limited by the hooks at each end of travel. It's time the call the guy who rebuilt my valve body.

 

I wish I had seen this video before I sent my valve body out for a rebuild.

 

I have not posted in a while. Between my impending divorce (moving her stuff), frustrations with the car, and lastly work, I have not the emotional energy to work on it. I have been corresponding with @nemiro and he has been a huge help. So thank you very much for your help. I am going to step through what was done and the root cause of putting my car in the neutral it would go into reverse.

Since I no longer trusted my valve body rebuild by Sunbelt, I said screw it and ordered a "rebuilt" on ebay for 230.

"Rebuilt" valve body from EBAY


I installed it and guess what the car would shift correctly between park, reverse, neutral, and drive. I actually drove it down the block and back.

Off the jack stands and down the block and back


However it would not shift beyond first gear. I used my expense scanner (YOUCANIC) to talk to the transmission control module. It found there is an electrical error in the solenoids.



Can a guy get a break? Nah! I did get a partial refund from the ebay seller, so I would not consider this a total lost. So the car went back on the stands and I pulled the ebay valve body out of the car and compared it to the sunbelt valve body. I found the root cause and it was not my fault this time!

Comparing the selector valve rods, you can see the issue.

right vs wrong, can you see it?

The bottom selector valve is too long. And why was it too long? Looking carefully at the retaining clip that holds the valve rod in place you can see the issue.


Look carefully at how the rod is held in place.

The rod has a nub that keeps it in place. The replaced part (tan) does not hold it correctly. This is how I fixed it.


The retaining clip is too thick.


Using a file I removed some material

I filed down the retaining clip so the rod is held correctly. I have ordered a new filter, new gasket, and more transmission fluid. Since I have the transmission opened and closed too many times, I don't trust the existing gasket. Once those parts arrive, I will keep the group updated on results.

 

SOOO frustrating when the repair part is faulty.

 

.


Great detective work, AND having help from nemiro. Nemiro is a great asset to us all with the workings of these highly complex/integrated parts.


.

 

OK Hopefully I can close this post. My fluid, new seal, and filter came on Saturday. I had just got done dealing with a very difficult soon to be ex-wife that day as she came to pick up the last of her processions. Working on the car was a much needed distraction. I put in the fixed valve body. I cleared the original codes from the bad solenoid/conductor plate from my test valve body. I was able to test drive my car shifting through all the gears in automatic mode. I have not tried the manual shift. That night I was able to drive my sexy car to a ballroom dance. While nobody saw me leave or enter my fancy car, I felt fancy having driven it.


Back on the road again!

I will continue to repair all the little things to fix items from the abuse this car had received from pervious owners.
And, maybe in 2024 I can finally join my fellow crossfire owners in the fall rally.

 

I'm glad that you got to finally get out there and enjoy your car!
They are a great distraction. That's why I enjoy working on mine.
Best of luck too you!