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My key FOB is stuck in the ignition and cannot be removed. There's no physical damage and the car can be driven with no problem. Its as if the gear lever has not been placed in park, but it has been. Any help greatly appreciated.
uhh, try the fuses.
Thats something weird to happen.
If all else fails take it to the dealer let them disconnect the battery that should defiantly do the trick (or do it yourself if you know how to remove the battery off these bad boys)
Have disconnected battery and reconnected after 30 secs. Made no difference. Everything works but FOB cannot be removed under any circumstances. I also suspected the cable interlink to the gear lever. With that disconnected the gear lever cannot be moved out of park so it is obviously functioning. Checked the fuses and they are fine. What What else affects the current that locks the FOB in the ignition?
Odd since it can turn the car on still I would first think it needs to be synced but that's not it. Maybe it needs a new battery for the key. Maybe just a good yank will do it, I'm guessing maybe it was put in in an awkward position that got it jammed. Try pushing the key all the way down to see if it moves into position then pull it out.
On this model the FOB can't be removed when not in park and the problem presents exactly that symptom except that it now can't be removed even in park. The key is in normal position and doesn't feel as if it is jammed. I'll probably have to wait until Monday to take it to the dealer which is a bind as we are going on leave.
Problem solved. The coaxial cable from the gear lever had popped out. Apparently a safety feature to ensure that the doors unlock in an accident. An auto electrician took less than 5 minutes to correct the fault and no tools are needed. You simply lift the gear lever and surrounding facia which reveals the cable on the right of the lever which I can now do myself if it ever happens again!
I had the EXACT same problem as described by Sierra. The solution is exactly as he described just a few posts later.
Despite going to the dealer and my local mechanic, nobody knew exactly how to solve this. Several people tried continually to put the car in Drive then back to Park. Fail. We tried disconnecting the battery. Fail. Tried replacing the battery in the key (which we learned only affects the keyless remote). Fail.
As Sierra stated it is very likely that the black (with white tip) coaxial cable has come loose.
HERE'S HOW TO FIX IT:
STEP 1: remove casing around gear selector (pops out using strong fingers).
STEP 2: remove leather casing around gear selector (also pops out using fingers).
STEP 3: remove gear knob. After you remove the leather casing, lift the casing up over the knob and you'll see a black plastic piece. spin it counter-clockwise (I think) and the knob will lift off.
STEP 4: remove the plastic/wood center trim piece. There are two clips in the front (toward the stereo). Lift up there until the clips pull free, then slide the trim forward towards the front of the car to pull it out of the groove it is rested in behind the cup holder).
STEP 5: remove the ash tray. There are two small clips on both sides of the ash tray. Press the clips (I used a small screwdriver) and the ash tray pulls out. You have to sort of maneuver the ash tray around for it to fully pull out.
STEP 6: locate the BLACK coaxial cable with the WHITE clip and if you find it to be loose then you've found your problem. Plug/push it back into the gear shift housing (towards the back of the car) and turn it (mine turned counter clockwise) and you'll feel it lock into place.
Your key should come free!
I have a video and photos I can send if you need further assistance. Just message me.
Hello.
I had the exact same problem with the stuck key, and it was solved by reconnecting the cable with the round white connector at the gear selector.
Thank you very much 👍👍🍺
I've read and researched until my eyes have closed. I have the same problem originally stated in this thread.
2013 ML350 decides at times it will not shift into gears after a while... After scanning a few errors that came up states the ISM was bad so it was replaced. Worked for about a week before going back to what it was doing.
Replaced the Auxiliary Battery even thought it's voltage is around 12.8v
Replaced Main Battery with new Champion AGM battery even though voltage was fine.
Took voltage reading from Alternator and no problem there.
Replaced FOB Key battery (after 4 energizer batteries kept getting "Replace Battery" message. Switched to Panasonic and message went away. Vehicle drove fine for 2 days now back to it's same.
Scanned again and the following code comes up - P172A00 - The Direct Select Lever is Faulty.
Can't find anything that explains or deals with this code however almost convinced this is the problem.
This was so helpful and the issue has been sorted. Thank you so so much.
Originally Posted by radioman
I had the EXACT same problem as described by Sierra. The solution is exactly as he described just a few posts later.
Despite going to the dealer and my local mechanic, nobody knew exactly how to solve this. Several people tried continually to put the car in Drive then back to Park. Fail. We tried disconnecting the battery. Fail. Tried replacing the battery in the key (which we learned only affects the keyless remote). Fail.
As Sierra stated it is very likely that the black (with white tip) coaxial cable has come loose.
HERE'S HOW TO FIX IT:
STEP 1: remove casing around gear selector (pops out using strong fingers).
STEP 2: remove leather casing around gear selector (also pops out using fingers).
STEP 3: remove gear knob. After you remove the leather casing, lift the casing up over the knob and you'll see a black plastic piece. spin it counter-clockwise (I think) and the knob will lift off.
STEP 4: remove the plastic/wood center trim piece. There are two clips in the front (toward the stereo). Lift up there until the clips pull free, then slide the trim forward towards the front of the car to pull it out of the groove it is rested in behind the cup holder).
STEP 5: remove the ash tray. There are two small clips on both sides of the ash tray. Press the clips (I used a small screwdriver) and the ash tray pulls out. You have to sort of maneuver the ash tray around for it to fully pull out.
STEP 6: locate the BLACK coaxial cable with the WHITE clip and if you find it to be loose then you've found your problem. Plug/push it back into the gear shift housing (towards the back of the car) and turn it (mine turned counter clockwise) and you'll feel it lock into place.
Your key should come free!
I have a video and photos I can send if you need further assistance. Just message me.
This was so helpful and the issue has been sorted. Thank you so so much.
Ssme problem I am facing as well. Please send Video if you have on
I am facind the same problem. Could you please send me the video
ThaAnks
Originally Posted by radioman
I had the EXACT same problem as described by Sierra. The solution is exactly as he described just a few posts later.
Despite going to the dealer and my local mechanic, nobody knew exactly how to solve this. Several people tried continually to put the car in Drive then back to Park. Fail. We tried disconnecting the battery. Fail. Tried replacing the battery in the key (which we learned only affects the keyless remote). Fail.
As Sierra stated it is very likely that the black (with white tip) coaxial cable has come loose.
HERE'S HOW TO FIX IT:
STEP 1: remove casing around gear selector (pops out using strong fingers).
STEP 2: remove leather casing around gear selector (also pops out using fingers).
STEP 3: remove gear knob. After you remove the leather casing, lift the casing up over the knob and you'll see a black plastic piece. spin it counter-clockwise (I think) and the knob will lift off.
STEP 4: remove the plastic/wood center trim piece. There are two clips in the front (toward the stereo). Lift up there until the clips pull free, then slide the trim forward towards the front of the car to pull it out of the groove it is rested in behind the cup holder).
STEP 5: remove the ash tray. There are two small clips on both sides of the ash tray. Press the clips (I used a small screwdriver) and the ash tray pulls out. You have to sort of maneuver the ash tray around for it to fully pull out.
STEP 6: locate the BLACK coaxial cable with the WHITE clip and if you find it to be loose then you've found your problem. Plug/push it back into the gear shift housing (towards the back of the car) and turn it (mine turned counter clockwise) and you'll feel it lock into place.
Your key should come free!
I have a video and photos I can send if you need further assistance. Just message me.
01-26-2013, 01:44 AM
