JohnnyBombSquad

Hello all,
Yesterday I noticed that my 1999 C280 would not shift out of second gear. I ran the codes and found that the car was in limp mode. This made sense because earlier that morning I had spilled a drink onto the shift area. Well, I hadn't really done my research and decided to see what happened if I unplugged the throttle position sensor. (Stupid) So I did, the car started, would only drive in reverse and then I pulled the car over and turned the car off. I plugged the sensor back in and now... nothing. The key turns all the way but nothing happens, it doesn't crank, it doesn't click, nothing. So now I'm stuck. Any ideas?

John

Russell Ormerod

Nothing to do with throttle! Strip and clean the gear selector. That drink is slowly destroying the electronics as the corrosion continues

JohnnyBombSquad

That's what I figured but why will the car not even start now? Was it just coincidence and bad timing?

Russell Ormerod

How is it going to start when the engine ecu cannot get the info from the selector module about park position? Because it's being corroded away by the drink spill

JohnnyBombSquad

Took out the gear selector, stripped and cleaned the connections, there isn't an exposed board put it back together and still nothing when I try and start the car. I'm wondering if anything has to be reprogrammed by a Mercedes mechanic?

Russell Ormerod

You need to completely strip gear selector module.. there is a pcb. With your ign on is it displaying pos P in the cluster?

optimusprime m1

John was the engine or the key switched on, as you removed the sensor?

JohnnyBombSquad

Yes it does display P on the cluster. As far as the throttle control sensor near the break booster under the hood, no, the car was not on and the key was not in the ignition when unplugged. However after unplugging it when I started the car I only had reverses ( a new symptom) and when I turned the car off it would not start again (also a new symptom). Before I did that The car started fine it just would not leave 2nd gear. Now I'm worried that I did actually clean the gear selector properly but created another problem along the way.

Thanks for all the help!

Russell Ormerod

I can guarantee you. Unplugging and reconnecting throttle sensor will not cause your condition. Sure the tcm needs throttle info. But once you cycle the ign all will be good again. Did you plug throttle sensor in all the way?
Also explain exactly how you cleaned gear selector? I assume you have tiptronic.. is all the gears displayed on the dash? P R N D... is the plastic bushing ok where the link goes into gear lever. An out of adjustment will cause a non start. Did you perhaps disturb the purple wire that goes to the starter when u disconnected the throttle? Check all fuses in module box k40 relay unit.you will see the purple starter wire in there. Can you check faults?

JohnnyBombSquad

I stripped and cleaned the gear selector per this article. http://www.benzworld.org/forums/c208...e-removal.html On my models however there was no exposed circuit board.

JohnnyBombSquad

I'm unsure if this helps.

Russell Ormerod

Electronics are inside 107

Russell Ormerod

Post your vin

JohnnyBombSquad

WDBHA29GXXF762382

I cannot for the life of me get 107 out let alone open to clean. There is a white strip on top that doesn't allow access to the board.