Mercedes – 722.9 7G-Tronic Valve Body & Conductor Plate – Must Read

Defective valve body and conductor plate issues have affected many Mercedes-Benz cars with 722.9 7G Tronic Automatic Transmissions. If these parts fail, they will require replacement to extend the life of the transmission. The early 722.9 transmissions installed on Mercedes-Benz models between 2004-2008 had a higher failure rate. Most of these transmissions were identified as VGS1 and required the replacement of both the valve body and conductor plate.

Mercedes-Benz Refusal to Sell Replacement Valve Body and Conductor Plate

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Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz declined to sell replacement valve bodies to independent repair shops claiming that these components were related to the vehicle’s security. Yet they will sell complete transmissions. Mercedes-Benz claims it will not sell the valve body because it could aid in automobile theft. In reality, all that was happening was that dealers had the unfair advantage of being the only ones who could repair these cars, while independent repair shops were limited in being able to fix these cars. 

With the problem becoming more common, we understand that Mercedes-Benz will now sell those parts to independent shops. A TRP paperwork needs to be completed with the owner’s information and details on the vehicle, such as VIN and vehicle log reports.

Failed Valve Body and Conductor Plate

Typically when the valve body or conductor plate fails, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Transmission stuck in second gear. Limp Home Mode
• It shifts from first to second gear and stays in that gear.
• The transmission will not shift into higher gears.
• Can not drive at speeds over 40 mph.
• Check engine light is ON.
• Erratic shifting of gears.
• Jolting while changing gears.
• Engine RPMs are high, but the car doesn’t move.

While these are the typical symptoms of a failed valve body or conductor plate, Mercedes-Benz transmission can go into LIMP MODE due to other issues that may not be directly related to the transmission.

These transmission problems may start developing as early as 50,000 miles. Replacing the valve body will cost between $2,000 and $3,000. 

Reprogramming the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) with the latest software is unlikely to fix valve body or conductor plate issues permanently. It could make gear changes smoother for those not experiencing transmission problems but should not be seen as a solution when the failure is due to hardware.

Root Cause

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The problem is usually the speed sensors located in the conductor plate. The conductor plate bolts on top of the valve body located inside the transmission. If you scan your Mercedes-Benz with a diagnostic scanner, you may get several error codes pointing to speed sensor faults. You can not replace the speed sensors themselves; therefore, you must replace the conductor plate.  Luckily, the transmission does not need to be removed for you to replace the conductor plate.

The early 722.9 transmissions (MY 2004-2007) identified as VGS1 on top of the TCU required that you replace both the valve body and conductor plate.

In newer units, second-generation (VGS2) and third-generation (VGS3)  can be repaired by replacing the conductor plate and TCU unit only. The new TCU unit must be virgin and married to the vehicle using SCN coding.

How to remove/replace the valve body on 722.9 7G?

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Replacing the valve body on the 722.9 7G Tronic.

Replacing the valve body on a 722.9xx requires the TCU to be “virgin” and “married” to your car. That means the TCU can not be from a used car. In the 722.9 transmissions, the TCU is on top of the conductor plate. It may have Siemens VDO printed on top. This requires that you purchase the replacement parts from the dealer.

It is also possible to virgin a TCU. Some facilities can take a used TCU and make it virgin again by erasing the information of the previous vehicle.

Instruction on replacing the valve body on the 722.9 7-Speed transmissions is generally the same as on the 5-Speed automatic transmission.

The following video shows step-by-step instructions on how to perform this procedure.

Make sure to reinstall the B3/2 valve. If you don’t, your Mercedes-Benz may not move when you switch between the Economy / Sport / Standard mode using the switch on the shifter module.

Location of Selenoids and Clutches

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The picture below shows the location of the solenoids and clutches on the 722.9 Mercedes-Benz transmission, which include:

• Lock Up Selenoid
• Working Pressure Solenoid
• K2 Clutch
• K1 Clutch
• B2 Brake
• B1 Brake
• B3 Brake

How to replace the solenoids

Replacing the solenoids from the Mercedes-Benz 7-speed transmission is very easy once you remove the valve body from the transmission. You will need to Torx T-40 bit to remove the bolt holding the clamp. Once the clamp (bracket) is removed, you can pull the solenoids straight up to remove them. Reinstall the solenoids in reverse order. Tighten the T-40 bolts to approximately 70 in-lb.

Remove the conductor plate.

Use the T-30 Torx bit to remove the conductor plate bolts. 7 bolts need to be removed to remove the conductor plate from the.

VGS Conductor Plate

There are three conductor plates for the Mercedes-Benz 7-Speed 722.9 automatic transmissions. The conductor plates are designated as models:

• VGS 1 – Requires Replacement of Valve Body and Conductor Plate
• VGS 2
• VGS 3

What Scanner Can I Use to Diagnose my Mercedes-Benz?

If you’re experiencing problems with your Mercedes-Benz, the YOUCANIC full system diagnostic scanner can be an invaluable tool for troubleshooting and diagnosing the issue. This scanner is designed specifically for use with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, allowing you to access and analyze data from your car’s various systems and modules.

With the YOUCANIC scanner, you can perform various diagnostic functions, including reading and clearing fault codes, monitoring live data, performing component activation tests, and more. This allows you to identify the root cause of the problem and take appropriate action to fix it, whether it involves replacing a faulty component, adjusting to a system setting, or performing more extensive repairs.

By using the YOUCANIC full system diagnostic scanner, you can save time and money by avoiding unnecessary trips to the mechanic and performing repairs yourself. Plus, with the ability to access real-time data and diagnostics, you can stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance and prevent potential problems before they occur.

How do I know which VGS conductor plate I have?

Look for a number printed on top of the VGS / VDO. You should have a number such as VGS 3.