Shifter console or transmission problem?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
2001 E320
Shifter console or transmission problem?
Here is the problem, that is intermittent, I am dealing with on this Benz, just not sure if it is the shifter console or the transmission (was like that when I got the car and I don't know if there was any liquid spilled):
I start the car and put it in “R” and it engages with a clunk, backup lights don’t work and the indicator on the dash still shows “P”. I continue to shift to “D” and it engages again with a clunk while the dash still indicated “P” (even when in “N”). Car drives but doesn’t shift past 1st gear. I cannot shift the car back into “P” without overriding the gear shift console (screwdriver in override hole). I can hear clicking in the gear shift console when pressing the brake pedal and the brake light switch is new. When I shift into “R” and I see that the indicator on the dash doesn’t change, I am able to push the lever back to the “P” position without the need to override.
What I have been doing so far when I see that the indicated gear shift position doesn’t change when I shift into “R”, I put the lever back into “P”, turn off the engine and remove the key re-start the car, shift to “R” and continue the cycle 5-6 times until everything works as it should (backup lights work correctly at that point also). Sometimes I get lucky and everything works as it should on the first try, the position indicates correctly on the dash and there is no clunk when selecting either “R” or “D” and the car drives fine.
The 38-pin diagnostic port scan showed P1856 “Shift lever position detection failed”.
I start the car and put it in “R” and it engages with a clunk, backup lights don’t work and the indicator on the dash still shows “P”. I continue to shift to “D” and it engages again with a clunk while the dash still indicated “P” (even when in “N”). Car drives but doesn’t shift past 1st gear. I cannot shift the car back into “P” without overriding the gear shift console (screwdriver in override hole). I can hear clicking in the gear shift console when pressing the brake pedal and the brake light switch is new. When I shift into “R” and I see that the indicator on the dash doesn’t change, I am able to push the lever back to the “P” position without the need to override.
What I have been doing so far when I see that the indicated gear shift position doesn’t change when I shift into “R”, I put the lever back into “P”, turn off the engine and remove the key re-start the car, shift to “R” and continue the cycle 5-6 times until everything works as it should (backup lights work correctly at that point also). Sometimes I get lucky and everything works as it should on the first try, the position indicates correctly on the dash and there is no clunk when selecting either “R” or “D” and the car drives fine.
The 38-pin diagnostic port scan showed P1856 “Shift lever position detection failed”.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
2001 E320
Update:
Update: I checked a local junkyard and found they had a 2000 C280 sitting in the yard since about 3 weeks. I figured it wouldn't hurt to pay the $1 entry fee and check out the car. Well, the shifter was still installed, but the housing around it that is held by the security force screws was pretty messed up by someone who tried to remove it. I removed the shifter and swapped the plastic case with my original one (swapped the little circuit board also). Installed the shifter from the junkyard and indicated the gears correctly and there was no clunk putting the car in gear and the shifter did not lock. Took the car for a test drive in the neighborhood and it shifted fine. The junkyard gave me 50% discount on the busted up shifter which set me back a whopping $12.
