When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Broken column shifter
Yikes, my GF called the other day, stuck in the middle of the road, unable to shift. I was closeby, and forced it into gear grasping the stub of the shifter.
Seems she snapped the shifter right off, it's now hanging by the thin wires that go to the park button.
Looks like the part is about 150 on parts dot com with shipping, more like 250 at the local dealer + tax so 275!
Anyone else encouter this?
I guess that means disassembling the steering column.
SRS errors?
Any chance this is a service campaign ? Ha.....
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Originally Posted by Hu99
Forgive my low post count, for it surely points to a lack of intelligence. Hope you weren't too offended.
Well, when you pass 3K posts, your brain swells to 5 times it's normal size. Chicks really dig a guy with a giant brain who's also good with his tools.. he he
You should start to notice some swelling around 100 posts...
he he I guess you ML guys don't have too much to talk about.
We have a lot of DIY'ers in the W203 forum.
I'm somewhat of a subject matter expert on 2002 M111 C coupes.
Though, I also had the displeasure of replacing a water pump on a M112
equipped 1999 ML320. Gawd, what a pain.
Ha, well, she's off to pickup the part from Autobahn motors,
and looks I'll be wrenching this weekend, alas it's
V-day.
I wonder if I can count my labor as a V-day present?
I also ordered the 164 DVD manual.
I've never pulled the steering column apart on a Mercedes let alone
any vehicle with an airbag. Thats what concerns me.
The airbag.
Will I get an SRS error if I disconnect the airbag with the key out and the battery connected.
I'm considering disconnecting the battery, but that usually carries it's own risks as well (on W203 it sometimes results in blown SAMS and what not, there's a whole sticky on the subject, though I've been lucky it seems) not to mention lots of errors on SDS.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 02-10-2011 at 04:36 PM.
His 2019 RAM Cummins Turbo Diesel Laramie; Her's 2007 ML320 CDI P3; Mine BMW R1200R
"Will I get an SRS error if I disconnect the airbag with the key out and the battery connected?"
Sure will. I had unplugged a harness under the drivers seat to re route it to my preference, and when I put the key back in, the dreaded SRS light was on. Trip to the dealer to reset was needed.
Will I get an SRS error if I disconnect the airbag with the key out and the battery connected.
I'm considering disconnecting the battery, but that usually carries it's own risks as well (on W203 it sometimes results in blown SAMS and what not, there's a whole sticky on the subject, though I've been lucky it seems) not to mention lots of errors on SDS.
As dgiturbo says, you will get an error when you disconnect the airbag -- even if you disconnect the battery! (There is a small auxiliary battery that keeps enough power for the airbag sensor to keep operating.) Definite trip to the dealer afterwards as it can't be reset without their computer.
Removal is simple and straightforward. There are two torx screws on the forward edge of the steering wheel. Remove them and the airbag lifts out. Don't worry about which electrical plug inside the steering wheel reconnects to which socket: they are all matched, so you can't reassemble them wrong. To remove the wheel, undo the large nut in the center and jiggle the wheel -- or whack it with a rubber hammer -- until it comes loose. No puller needed. When installing it, one spline is slightly larger than the rest, so don't force it on if it doesn't seem willing.
That said, I have no idea whether you do, indeed, need to remove the steering wheel in order to disassemble the column.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Fortunately I have a cool indy guy with SDS, who works for
tequila. Or sometimes beer.
I make a point of stopping by when I don't need anything,
and bring beverages and hang out talk about mercedes.
When I go need something, like my Xenon set to present, hey, a few shots of
$50 tequila and it was done.
It pays to 'network'.
So, no worries about the airbag blowing up in my face?
FYI- The wires finally just broke off,
and the car still drives. It goes into park automatically when you take the key out.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 02-11-2011 at 02:49 PM.
So, no worries about the airbag blowing up in my face?
I suppose if you beat the airbag severely enough with a large hammer, you might get it to go off, but otherwise it only does so when instructed to by one of the various computers dotted around the vehicle. I have removed my steering wheel several times (I have a heated one for winter, wood one for summer) and am still here.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
She did it again!
Originally Posted by roadrutz
I suppose if you beat the airbag severely enough with a large hammer, you might get it to go off, but otherwise it only does so when instructed to by one of the various computers dotted around the vehicle. I have removed my steering wheel several times (I have a heated one for winter, wood one for summer) and am still here.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Yeah, I"ve got it down pretty well now.
It took me a long time to fix it the 1st time, this time
we had to cut our weekend out of town short so I could get to the dealer and buy the part on Sat. and install on Sunday and have her back on the road.
Yeah, I"ve got it down pretty well now.
It took me a long time to fix it the 1st time, this time
we had to cut our weekend out of town short so I could get to the dealer and buy the part on Sat. and install on Sunday and have her back on the road.
So will there be a 'Procedure and Pitfalls to avoid' write-up for replacing a Broken Column Shifter!?
02-08-2011, 09:37 PM
Chicks really dig a guy with a giant brain who's also good with his tools.. he he
