I have a three photo album to accompany this story, with one caveat: It was written for mechanics in a forum I frequent (and moderate). And there are some bad words. I'll post a link below.
Basically, an '06 Sprinter shows up last week with shifting problems. No check engine light. I confirmed that it wasn't shifting correctly, then I found a huge leak. Fixed leak, cleaned up mess, got fluid leveled correctly, test drive, it shifts great. Returned it to the customer.
Today it reappears. Driver not amused. Check engine light. Quick test drive reveals that it likes me or something, it's shifting great. Double-check fluid level. Perfect. Check area it was leaking previously. No issues. Code was for a fault in the turbine input shaft speed sensor. Google is literally 10 times faster than our Sprinter service manual on CD, so while the CD was slowly coming up to speed, I'm Googling. And there's no clear answer. And then I found something ridiculous that I've rarely seen in the wild: Fluid Migration.
I yanked the driver's seat out. The TCM is covered with dirt and fuzz, because it's oily. I unplugged the connector, and automatic transmission fluid came out.
Apparently this is not uncommon. The cure is a redesigned transmission wiring harness adapter connector with improved seals. Hopefully the harness itself is ok, mostly because I don't like watching customers freak out. I cleaned everything up with contact cleaner, including both inside and outside the TCM. I be that's expensive, too.
This is where I'd like to point out my appreciation for my shop foreman. Someone has to call the guy that makes his living with this thing, give the most ridiculous explanation of his truck's problem that no one has ever heard of before, and somehow explain that the service I did last week has no correlation at all with the current fiasco.
The album: Remember, foul language. The whole concept sounds ridiculous. - Imgur
Basically, an '06 Sprinter shows up last week with shifting problems. No check engine light. I confirmed that it wasn't shifting correctly, then I found a huge leak. Fixed leak, cleaned up mess, got fluid leveled correctly, test drive, it shifts great. Returned it to the customer.
Today it reappears. Driver not amused. Check engine light. Quick test drive reveals that it likes me or something, it's shifting great. Double-check fluid level. Perfect. Check area it was leaking previously. No issues. Code was for a fault in the turbine input shaft speed sensor. Google is literally 10 times faster than our Sprinter service manual on CD, so while the CD was slowly coming up to speed, I'm Googling. And there's no clear answer. And then I found something ridiculous that I've rarely seen in the wild: Fluid Migration.
I yanked the driver's seat out. The TCM is covered with dirt and fuzz, because it's oily. I unplugged the connector, and automatic transmission fluid came out.
Apparently this is not uncommon. The cure is a redesigned transmission wiring harness adapter connector with improved seals. Hopefully the harness itself is ok, mostly because I don't like watching customers freak out. I cleaned everything up with contact cleaner, including both inside and outside the TCM. I be that's expensive, too.
This is where I'd like to point out my appreciation for my shop foreman. Someone has to call the guy that makes his living with this thing, give the most ridiculous explanation of his truck's problem that no one has ever heard of before, and somehow explain that the service I did last week has no correlation at all with the current fiasco.
The album: Remember, foul language. The whole concept sounds ridiculous. - Imgur
