QuestionQUESTION: Hi Ron, I have a 1987 SL560, first minor problem is that the SRS light is on, why would that be and what is necessary to get this light to go off. Secondly, the transmission shifts from 1st to 3rd with no 2nd gear and it would seem no 4th gear, the transmission seems strong, no slipping or odd noises. I have used the gear shift to move through the gears but the same happens,I have also checked the fluid level and topped it up to the correct level, can you give me any idea of what the problem may be.
Regards
Michael
ANSWER: sorry been away. The SRS (Supplimental Restraint Systems) issue may be a bad or worn battery, or altenator, bad ground. Also could be bad airbag module or steering sensor issue. On the shift - 1-2 should be firm and less so into third. Your car does not have a true 4th gear.
This could be multiple issues, how many miles? Could be vacuum related, bad piston in tranny , too m uch fluid, linkage issues ect , ect. Are you tech savey with tools?
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QUESTION: Hi Ron, thanks for your reply, I will start with the steering sensor and go from there. With regards to the tranny, the car has 84k miles on the clock, not sure thats true, I am tech savey with tools and I have been driving the SL for a few days now. I think that the two gears that I get are, as you guessed, 1 and 2, because as I drove home this evening the car finally went into third, which dropped the revs down to 2500 at a speed of 65 to 70 mph. However using the shift stick still has no effect, does this give you any further clues as to what the problem could be?
Michael
ANSWER: one other thing , overfilled transmission fluid will give some of these symptoms as well. MB's are very sensitive to fluid level. DO just as the owners manual states
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QUESTION: Hi Ron, I have to change the steering shaft coupling on my 1987 SL560, can you let me know the best way to approach this project.
Answer I assume you mean the coupling btween shaft and arm on steering box. You gain access through a port plate down where the steering shaft exits the interior. You have to remove steering wheel to separate the halves. Very tight working area. Soak bolts before removal, they should be allen or torx . If they strip you are in deep dodo
Good luck
This is my write up ( for another forum) on the job for the 72-75 I think yours should be similar. I know the part is the same , or nearly so
remove the steering wheel. Once off, you'll see a 3 or 4 small bolts surrounding the the shaft, remove them. You'll also see a large snap ring around the steering shaft, remove that too.
You'll also have to remove the blinker stalk from the steering column. Remove the rubber cover boot. The stalk is held in by 2 screws and the electrical connector, remove all and pull the stalk out.
Once everything is removed, loosen the 2 coupler bolts through the hole in the firewall. Get a 1/4 drive socket with a metric hex bit (6mm?) and also have a regular allen key wrench (I used both). I remember having to shorten the length of the allen key wrench a bit for better turning radiance.
After everything is loosened, wiggle the coupler and shaft upwards through the column just enough to remove the old coupler (2"-3"). Slip the new coupler on the steering box end (Important...bolts mush pre threaded in new coupler), them tap the steering shaft down into the coupler all the way. Tighten everything up and put everything back together.
Important.... Make sure before you start to mark the position of the shaft in relation to to the steering column. You want the shaft to be seated in exactly the same spline position that it came out as..... If you don't line it up exactly, your blinkers won't cancel out after making a turn.
