Dd1101

Good evening folks,

Under 500 miles on my c43, today I got my windows tinted. I was pulling out of the parking spot, and was driving forward. I had to turn the wipers on and I accidentally hit P button for park. I heard a ratchet like noise and hit the brakes. No dash light, the car drives fine and shift smoothly in all ththe settings.

After 17 years of various Acura's I just have to be cognizant of the wiper controls being on the other side.

Thoughts on any long term damage?

PeterUbers

You're fine

powerrrrr

It's fine.

Your Mercedes actually wouldn't let you shift to Park, or any gear other than drive if you are moving at a speed that would cause damage.

Dd1101

Ok thanks. The ratcheting sounds I heard must be a safety mechanism then, I assume.

powerrrrr

I've never personally encountered that particular noise, but I have engaged park while moving slowly before, I would assume the noise you heard was from the braking system. Maybe the brakes slipping.

gabe.m

It was not brakes. Usually there is a lever/pin that blocks a gear or something, so if the car is moving, the gear is rotating, and the blocking lever/mechanism does not have time to click and get between the teeth so that lever presses on the rotating teeth of the gear, and that's why you hear that sound. Practically if you shift to park and there is no safety mechanism, the lever would keep grinding the teeth, until it can actually catch on the gear and block it. At that time, the car would come to a hard/harsh stop.

sean1.8t

Ya if it drives fine then I wouldn't worry about it.

The safety (whoops) features for this type of situation don't allow the car to shift into any gear that wouldn't be natural but it can always be an iffy situation when moving under 5mph.

If anything did go wrong, you likely would have heard a very loud noise and had some ill effects because of it.

5ilver-5urfer

You heard the parking pawl click. It happens to the best of us. Your car is fine. Just don't make a habit of it :P

NSAMG

good to know.

gabe.m

Dd1101

Thanks Everyone!!

YICS NZ

Another good example that they should do a 6 spd manual tranny on our c63s

Dd1101

But it will mess up the flow of the center stack

YICS NZ

true! But that joystick thing is a waste of time anyhow.
plus there are two paddles any way, jst need a clutch! Remember the F1 is having the clutch on the steering wheel too