Cl500 stuck in park!
Discussion
Bit of a worrying issue - car starts fine but I just can't shift it out of Park. I've got another car so not the end of the world, but anyone got any experience or ideas what this could be?
It is literally not budging - so can't put it neutral or anything, just frozen solid in park. Got to go out unfortunately so this is going to be playing on my mind all evening!
It is literally not budging - so can't put it neutral or anything, just frozen solid in park. Got to go out unfortunately so this is going to be playing on my mind all evening!
First port of call is the brake pedal switch. Are the brake lights coming on normally?
But I can recall my mechanic working on this problem and it was something in the selector. I'll ask him if I remember when I see him on Wednesday.
The suggestion here is that some firm percussive maintenance is required: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w215-cl-class/1559...
More detailed write up here: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220-s-class/14557...
But I can recall my mechanic working on this problem and it was something in the selector. I'll ask him if I remember when I see him on Wednesday.
The suggestion here is that some firm percussive maintenance is required: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w215-cl-class/1559...
More detailed write up here: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220-s-class/14557...
Edited by r129sl on Monday 11th March 21:15
As mentioned check your brake light switch, but if his appears all ok then it's probably the ESM (electronic shift module) or gearshift lever in simple terms that's at fault. It's a fairly common problem & fails due to a broken lever inside the mechanism. There's plenty of DIY advise to be found on how to repair it especially on the likes of 'you tube'. Be warned though it is a quite technical DIY job in removing the floor shift as well as stripping it down etc.
Thanks very much for the replies guys. Would have been back on here sooner but I had to go out. I'm pressing the brake pedal down, (clearly the first thing to check though so not at all a stupid question).
I'll check the break lights in the morning and go from there. I'll be sure to check back in!
I'm not technically or mechnically minded unortunately but I do know a good mobile mechanic who I have used before so if it's a diy he'll be the man I turn to.
I'll check the break lights in the morning and go from there. I'll be sure to check back in!
I'm not technically or mechnically minded unortunately but I do know a good mobile mechanic who I have used before so if it's a diy he'll be the man I turn to.
r129sl said:
The suggestion here is that some firm percussive maintenance is required: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w215-cl-class/1559...
Jesus - smacking it with a hammer! I hope it is that simple but don't know how hard I could bring myself to do it!Edited by r129sl on Monday 11th March 21:15
scrubchub said:
r129sl said:
The suggestion here is that some firm percussive maintenance is required: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w215-cl-class/1559...
Jesus - smacking it with a hammer! I hope it is that simple but don't know how hard I could bring myself to do it!Edited by r129sl on Monday 11th March 21:15
Rang my indie MB specialist to see what they would say and they pretty much told me that nothing could be done without getting under the car, so it will need specialist recovery. Seems to be at odds with with what others have said. I'll try to give it a smack using reasonable force. If that doesn't work then it's trying the diy route to get that bloody plastic leaver out.
Hi all, a bit more help and then I think I'm there! The problem was, sure enough, the crappy little plastic lever in the ESM. Mercedes of course don't sell the individual part, only the entire ESM module (at £500). I'm pretty sure this is the part:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-ESM-GEAR-SEL...
Not too bad, but everything I find is in America. The car is obviously off the road so if there was somewhere in Britain that stocked them it would be convenient. Anyone got any leads?
Just to add: I definetly needs the part as without it won't lock into park and the key can't be released from the ignition.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-ESM-GEAR-SEL...
Not too bad, but everything I find is in America. The car is obviously off the road so if there was somewhere in Britain that stocked them it would be convenient. Anyone got any leads?
Just to add: I definetly needs the part as without it won't lock into park and the key can't be released from the ignition.
scrubchub said:
Hi all, a bit more help and then I think I'm there! The problem was, sure enough, the crappy little plastic lever in the ESM. Mercedes of course don't sell the individual part, only the entire ESM module (at £500). I'm pretty sure this is the part:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-ESM-GEAR-SEL...
Not too bad, but everything I find is in America. The car is obviously off the road so if there was somewhere in Britain that stocked them it would be convenient. Anyone got any leads?
Just to add: I definetly needs the part as without it won't lock into park and the key can't be released from the ignition.
With reference to needing the part & not being able to remove the key this is not the case. I can only go on a recent experience where I carried out this mod without fitting any new parts. Having removed the broken plastic lever I reassembled the floor shift minus the lever & refitted it to he car. What I found was you could still remove the key but also there was no need put foot on brake to release shift lever from park. It just moved freely into any gear. Whilst this is not ideal it still overcame the initial problem of being stuck in park & it was just a case of reeducating the way you selected gear etc.http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-ESM-GEAR-SEL...
Not too bad, but everything I find is in America. The car is obviously off the road so if there was somewhere in Britain that stocked them it would be convenient. Anyone got any leads?
Just to add: I definetly needs the part as without it won't lock into park and the key can't be released from the ignition.
Ok thanks for that. Just to be clear I'm not doing this repair myself, a mobile mechanic that I've used before is taking care of it. He had a good play around and was adamant that it was the case. After speaking to Mercedes about that part, they apparently also advised that it shouldn't be re assembled without as he would be liable if it flew off up the road (that sounds like nonsense to me though). He's trying to source the part himself but I think I may just buy the part as I'm selling the car soon and don't want it to seem like I've been cutting corners with maintenace.
And a month later;
Part arrived from California, but the little spring that sits under it had dissapeared, probably while the gear stick module was taken apart. That was replaced, but then another problem raised it's head - the little cylindrical solenoid that had uses a small plastic button to push the plastic lever up doesn't seem anymore to be able to push it far enough, so it is still stuck in park.
It doesn't have a part number so it's either finding one somewhere or buying the whole ESM (merc quotes £438 for this but I'm sure I'll find it cheaper). Anyone hae any idea where I could find that little cylinder part, possibly second hand if need be?
I could post a photo if need be.
Part arrived from California, but the little spring that sits under it had dissapeared, probably while the gear stick module was taken apart. That was replaced, but then another problem raised it's head - the little cylindrical solenoid that had uses a small plastic button to push the plastic lever up doesn't seem anymore to be able to push it far enough, so it is still stuck in park.
It doesn't have a part number so it's either finding one somewhere or buying the whole ESM (merc quotes £438 for this but I'm sure I'll find it cheaper). Anyone hae any idea where I could find that little cylinder part, possibly second hand if need be?
I could post a photo if need be.
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff