Shifter stuck in Park
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CURRENT: 2011 SL550 FORMER: C300, ML350, CLK550 Cabriolet, C240, ML320, 300TD
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25,462 Posts
Hi Clint, welcome to the forum!
This is not an uncommon problem. There's a plastic pawl inside the shifter that is electronically released. The Drive Authorization system does this once a valid key is recognized to switch on the ignition and your foot is on the brake. This pawl has been known to break. Officially, MBZ says "replace the entire shifter assembly", but many skilled DIYers have taken it apart and fixed it themselves. There are many threads about this on the forum, like this one:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230-sl-class/2144953-diy-shift-gear-lever-repair.html
This is not an uncommon problem. There's a plastic pawl inside the shifter that is electronically released. The Drive Authorization system does this once a valid key is recognized to switch on the ignition and your foot is on the brake. This pawl has been known to break. Officially, MBZ says "replace the entire shifter assembly", but many skilled DIYers have taken it apart and fixed it themselves. There are many threads about this on the forum, like this one:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230-sl-class/2144953-diy-shift-gear-lever-repair.html
CURRENT: 2011 SL550 FORMER: C300, ML350, CLK550 Cabriolet, C240, ML320, 300TD
Joined
·
25,462 Posts
It will cost you a whole new shifter - somewhere around $900 for the part and several hours of labor. The internal lever/pawl is not officially replaceable.
I dont recommend doing this job (DIY or PRO) without access to a lift.
Reconnecting the shifter is near impossible (if not impossible) from inside the car, and needs done from underneath it at the transmission.
The entire job from start to finish will take 2-3 hours. Lets call it 4 to be on the safe side.
The replacement after market part is less than 50 bucks.
With all of the above, a skilled indy should be able to do it for significantly less than 400-500 bucks.
Or you can do it yourself for less than 50, but make sure you can raise the car up in the air enough to comfortably and safely reach underneath it.
The Mercedes way of doing this is replacing the entire shifter: AKA huge waste. The aftermarket pawl is more than good.
One thing to keep in mind, there are 2 models of these pawls, 5mm and 11mm
Most R230 I ve seen are 11mm, but you cant be sure until you get the old part out. No way to check by PN, because the pawl is not sold from factory to use as reference.
Reconnecting the shifter is near impossible (if not impossible) from inside the car, and needs done from underneath it at the transmission.
The entire job from start to finish will take 2-3 hours. Lets call it 4 to be on the safe side.
The replacement after market part is less than 50 bucks.
With all of the above, a skilled indy should be able to do it for significantly less than 400-500 bucks.
Or you can do it yourself for less than 50, but make sure you can raise the car up in the air enough to comfortably and safely reach underneath it.
The Mercedes way of doing this is replacing the entire shifter: AKA huge waste. The aftermarket pawl is more than good.
One thing to keep in mind, there are 2 models of these pawls, 5mm and 11mm
Most R230 I ve seen are 11mm, but you cant be sure until you get the old part out. No way to check by PN, because the pawl is not sold from factory to use as reference.
Also worth checking the brake light switch.
The gear lever will not move out of park unless the brake is depressed.My switch was working the brake lights but it kept on getting locked in park.
Changed the £10 switch just above the brake pedal and all works fine again. I now keep a spare switch in the glove box.
The gear lever will not move out of park unless the brake is depressed.My switch was working the brake lights but it kept on getting locked in park.
Changed the £10 switch just above the brake pedal and all works fine again. I now keep a spare switch in the glove box.
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