Hello I had my car brakes pads and rotors fixed and outer tie rod ends and sway link after everything was completed took car for a test drive to check brakes to find out the car wont shift out of first. The RPM are going up to 40 but the car wont shift even though is a automatic. Can anyone help me figure this out I am a single mother of 2 that works fulltime and goes to school I can not afford a huge bill from the dealer.

 

Thank you for your reply I do understand that everything is expensive but a so is a whole new car LOL I did disconnect the battery but didn't work do you have any idea what could have caused this all that was worked on was brakes, brake line and tie rods? I never had any problems and car was running perfectly fine prior to brake line break. Just a lil stressed!!!! thanks for any and all help with this issue!!!!!

 

Who did the work? If you literally drove a fully functional automobile with no hints of transmission trouble into their shop and when you drove out it only works in 1st gear, you have reason to question them.

What did they disconnect to take suspension parts out?

Is it possible there is a sensor or connector that didn't get put back on?

Did they test drive the car at all? I can't imagine doing a brake job without testing them. If they let some Junior Johnson wannabee out with your car, that would be worth asking about.

But you also need to ask yourself a question or two. If you think back, were there any moments in the weeks leading up to this that hinted at trouble? When the tranny in my e400 went out, it just quit having forward gears at a light one day. I actually felt less pressure in brake pedal as brakes weren't needed to hold car still anymore. I let go of brakes to go when light turned green and car revved like in neutral. Only reverse still worked.

And when I thought back, a few weeks earlier it had done same thing. I drove in reverse for 50 ft and put back in drive that time and it was fine for a while. I convinced myself that I must have nudged it into neutral by accident. But once it finally quit, I realized that I had just overlooked it's big hint that earlier time.

Also, did you try switching from Sport and Comfort modes? Did you try manually shifting gears? In my 2005 CLK pushing right on stick while in drive goes up gears, and left goes down.

 

I dont think i read this yet so if your still trying to drive it for what ever reason around the corner for milk or something STOP.


Everything MavVidMB-v8 said. I can see where brakes may possibly lead to this. My car it wouldn't but i dont have the 4matic and know nothing about 4matic wish i could be of more help there. That being said brakes and suspension are two of many things these cars read to determine what to do with the traction control system. Which can prevent the car doing things if its not reading all the inputs correctly, or if it thinks for some reason car is in some state of danger.

Also to expand on what Mac said a little, there is chance that work performed had nothing to do with this. Not trying to be offending at all or sexist or whatever but i am going to assume just from the wording of your posts, that your not really a "car" person. Which is fine nothing wrong with that at all but it also means you might have a problem you never noticed, that some of us would pick up on right away.

i dont quite agree with however with idea of selling the car and getting something cheaper. Not that its not good advice or at least logical advice it is. Where i differ from that opinion is that i have a few Mercedes before the current one i have. I also work in the industry. What i have learned over the years when it comes these cars are

1. They are not the cheapest vehicles to maintain.
2. Parts and labor are usually higher than other cars (depending on year and make of course)
Those are the bad things now the good things

1. they are built extremely well
2. they are one of the safest cars on the market
3. when properly maintained they break down half as much as any other car and last about twice as long.
4 Your 05 is far superior to, in almost every way, than almost all the newer cars that would be in your price range.

I work on domestic cars, and i agree with the statement that in your situation maybe something domestic or Asian might be a better choice. That would most likely entail a car payment though and then if you get something like a chevy cruze you will be cussing the day you ever sold your benz.

If this did have something to do with the suspension work, its probably going to be an easy fix it. It usually is when things like this happen. If you need a new transmission then by all means its time to find another car.