Brave Heart

This forum has helped me on many occasions and I have found the members to know what they are talking about --- I have a request a question has come up on the Mercedes Forum that I'm sure you can help with -- In the spirit of all German technology together can we help

The basic question is how to move the gear lever out of PARK when its stuck their due to a faulty solenoid ?? -- This must be a generic problem that many auto trans owners have solved

Any ideas ??

Firstly, I apologize for bringing this topic up again - I have reviewed all other threads which deal with this issue.

The (disgracefully cheap) plastic catch which connects the solenoid to the release catch in the gear lever assembly is broken, which means that I cannot get the car out of park. I need to remove the assembly, but this entails removing the center console cover. I have the Mercedes WIS workshop manual so I am following correct procedure.

Which brings me to the actual problem. In order to remove the console cover It is absolutely necessary to move the gear lever to N or D. In the P position it is not possible to lift the console cover over the gear stick. But, I cannot get it out of P and there is no manual release such as found on some MB cars.

Is there anyone who knows how MB would overcome this problem? or do they resort to breaking the console or else sawing off the gear lever?

matt777

IIRC on my Saab, there is a manual release button near the shifter. I think I had to use a pointy object to push it in and release the shifter. Perhaps your MB has something similar.

Brave Heart

Thanks Matt I'll pass that along

grmnxtc

Which MB?, that might help with the answer... and there's usually a section in most of the vehicle "handbooks" that details these very "emergency gear selection" questions.

Brave Heart

Its a SL500 --- I think he's going to chop off the gearshift to avoid damaging the centre console -- yes really !