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Hello folks. I am long time reader and lurker, but, until today I haven't posted up.
My issue is that I cannot get the car out of park. Before posting up, I did a general search and one of the ways around this problem as a temporary solution, is to press down some sort of switch with a screw driver / chop stick / whatever is handy.
I have tried to do so, but with no luck. Here is where I am sticking the screwdriver into:
Can it be the break light switch under the pedal or is it likely to be one of these plastic hook like things inside the gear selector assembly that has cracked and disintegrated?
You found the problem in the last vid-----take the gear selector out define what broke and replace the broken part---there are hundreds of ytube movies on the subject!!
There are lots of videos on the S class, but I cannot see one related to a W202 C class. My question is whether my W202 has the same plastic hook thing as part of the gear assembly or whether the W202 setup is different and uses different parts?
So, this morning I went to Mercedes and bought a new brake switch for around $20.
The switch is located just above the brake pedal, so the big plastic cover in the driver's footwell area must come off.
There actual cover itself has 7 large screws + 1 small screw as pictured. Don't forget to check for screws behind the parking lever and also where the hood release catch is, this is where the small screw comes from.
Once all screws are off, gently take the cover off. You will need to feed the hood release lever carefully through the cover to completely take it out of the way, which I recommend for maximum work space area anyway.
The brake switch is shown in red. A simple 90 degree twist and pull motion will get it off, once the two wiring harnesses that clip into it are taken off...
Now, here is a picture of the old brake switch. I should have done a side by side with the genuine Mercedes part, but the obvious thing I noted was that the pin highlighted in green is longer on the Mercedes version! I guess what I have learnt from this one is that bits which are not expensive, especially if they relate to electrics, should probably be bought from Mercedes themselves to save any possible headache. I could have gotten this part about $5 cheaper, but for the sake of $5 I don't think it's worth it. For other stuff, by all means it is worth shopping around.
I also unplugged the battery for a couple minutes to help clear various settings.
THE RESULT?
The gear shifter now comes out of park very easily, but now the BAS / ESP light is permanently on, whereas with the old part it used to come on and off whenever it felt like. Some days were good, other days it would stay on permanently. My rear brake lights work fine, that I checked.
Regrettably the BAS|ESP faults can't be cleared with and OBD reader--you need factory or equal software to remove the fault.
FYI:the brake system is sympathetic to all the faults--that means that a fault(brake light switch) in one sensor is picked up by other control modules in the system--ie the BAS|ESP module--you fixed the issue, but now you have to clear the module
Also note that after clearing the BAS|ESP and the dash light returns--then you have another issue!!
Howdy folks. Just a little update. I fitted the new switch, and the light came on again. BUT! The light seems to have disappeared once I turned took the car for a little drive and turned the steering wheel lock to lock, which I believe resets the things.
So far, so good. Gear selector moves through all gears with no issues.
12-29-2015, 11:04 AM
