W203 c230 No Reverse shift
yep it happened for the 3rd time in row gear lever can move to the D position but cannot engage the reverse R position
only way to go around it is to cut the ignition step on brake and mover to "P" position then back to "R".Howvere when ignition is activated we go back to same problem no reverse ****...its feels like its locked in D or N only
another thing i noticed on the dash is "Autolights inoperable" displays briefly on the dash.
Could this be caused by low battery problem?? i have approx 100k on the clock
Last edited by Bambino256; Sep 3, 2020 at 08:26 PM.
It's not an easy DIY project but it's doable. The center console needs to be disassembled, which can take some time.
New selectors run around $550 to $700. Used ones on Ebay run about $125 but come with no guarantees. As much labor that's involved in the R&R, I didn't want to be changing out a used selector again 5k miles down the road. It made sense to buy a new one and be good for another 125k miles.
Lots of info on You-Tube for this project.
yep it happened for the 3rd time in row gear lever can move to the D position but cannot engage the reverse R position
only way to go around it is to cut the ignition step on brake and mover to "P" position then back to "R".Howvere when ignition is activated we go back to same problem no reverse ****...its feels like its locked in D or N only
another thing i noticed on the dash is "Autolights inoperable" displays briefly on the dash.
Could this be caused by low battery problem?? i have approx 100k on the clock
1) get one from wreckers
2) resolder old one on the selector optics sensor - I have done it on mine. Basically it was falling into the limp mode, gear selected values were playing up on the screen, ECU getting confused.
i had to disassemble module and resolder optical channels 4 per sensor as well as baked microchip for 15 minutes in oven
i still have the spare part on my hands, as my DIY worked, if it didn’t I would have used the part I received from Europe. From memory the wreckers price was around $AU120 or roughly around $US85.
i still have the spare part on my hands, as my DIY worked, if it didn’t I would have used the part I received from Europe. From memory the wreckers price was around $AU120 or roughly around $US85.
this is awesome so i take it you can sell that part to me
and have it shipped to my addressi can provide you with my email address we can discuss further more regarding the same cost for shipping etc....i would not mind buying brand new part too
i went to a Daimler dealership for a diagnostic and sure enough it reported "Selector lever position failed code P1856" with a fat big F
no chance for redemption part number required (A 203 26790 24)then further checks revealed i need upper and lower control arms (A204 330 43 11) (A204 330 44 11) (A204 330 19 11) (A204 330 20 11)...bushes have big deviations all need to be replaced .
finally a bunch of stored codes related to under voltage etc with codes C404 (No CAN message received from control unit ESM N15/5) this looks like i need to replace the battery too which still glows green perhaps the stored voltage is not enough to operate the diff electronic modules hence the faults
this is awesome so i take it you can sell that part to me
and have it shipped to my addressi can provide you with my email address we can discuss further more regarding the same cost for shipping etc....i would not mind buying brand new part too
i went to a Daimler dealership for a diagnostic and sure enough it reported "Selector lever position failed code P1856" with a fat big F
no chance for redemption part number required (A 203 26790 24)then further checks revealed i need upper and lower control arms (A204 330 43 11) (A204 330 44 11) (A204 330 19 11) (A204 330 20 11)...bushes have big deviations all need to be replaced .
finally a bunch of stored codes related to under voltage etc with codes C404 (No CAN message received from control unit ESM N15/5) this looks like i need to replace the battery too which still glows green perhaps the stored voltage is not enough to operate the diff electronic modules hence the faults
sure we could do that, just make sure part fits, as I have slightly different number on it to what you have mentioned. It is A2032672524. I’ve done control arms last year via local mechanic, as dealership wanted an arm and a leg for it. Also bushings were ok, but sway bar bushings were off and it looks like in this model sway bar bushings are non-detachable, so mechanic had to order new sway bar from Singapore.
wheel alignment after that as well.
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I had an old shifter with this sensor, but I think I chucked it when I moved recently.
Never heard of any possible fix for the sensor.
Until now.
I went through a couple of junkyard ones, and the last one is good
plus I nabbed another 'just in case' on half price day at PicknPull.
But now I'm at least 100 miles away from a picknpull and not many MB's.
So I'm a little confused by all the photo's.
What was the fix exactly?
You baked it in an oven? At what temp?
Or did you actually solder something?
BTW- Not such a big deal to pull the center console if you know how.
There's a few 'tricks' involved. pic below is part of the pdf posted but the pics got cut off.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Sep 9, 2020 at 09:34 PM.
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1) baking part: at 180C for 15 minutes in the oven - just to make sure all the channels refreshed
2) soldering part: renewed/refreshed solder on the optical sensors at the connection points - 4 per sensor = 16 connection points (arrows below)
My part number reads A2032679024 (MB diagnostic reads it as MB2095453332 HW version 35.2004 SW version 27.2005)
i hesitated to get that part from you so that i make an informed choice on the part numbers.i came across an OEM website that actually listed the part numbers that preceded the original part number ...but i was still not convinced need to do more research
I checked out a few web-shops and boy oh boy its damn expensive cheapest i was offered was $670 from Amsterdam
i am thinking i should take it apart and work on it perhaps!!!!..... otherwise once i get confirmation that A2032672524 works on the same module as mine i will be in your inbox
thanks for the sharing the info i will keep you posted
notice the Part Number is A203 267 85 24
has me confused the DIagnostic provides me with a different party number A203 267 9024
i am gona go ahead and follow the pics here and rework the module take me another couple days in between work
i did struggle to get it out however the DIY posted here helped me alot
i am also missing a lock pin cant find the damn thing




Put a piece of fishing line on it when reinstalling, so it falls off
you can easily try again.
i managed to find time and get this ESM taken apart on my office desk and lo-behold the optical sensor had the soldered legs off the board .
i used a heat gun to reheat the main board re-soldered the optical switches and the terminals back to the board double checked connectivity although with this particular unit a diode sends an optical signal to another small micro unit
i am guessing this the switching mechanism for whatever function is input from the gear lever or any other control unit
i then took down to my techie to have it refitted while i raced back to work
car is all good now shifting very fine ........you folks saved me alot of money with the DIY and pictures
thank you once again
dry joints all cleared
Optical switch chips are visible with terminals re-soldered to the board
Resealed with aldite and small touch of bostik glue
both ends sealed
Notice the loose terminals
this is before re-soldering the terminals back to the board
dry joints visible
Delphi chips
reverse side after reheating
I have been through electrics and even was thinking of changing battery, but after all it happened to be those sensors and joints worn off and needed some re-heating and re-soldering love.
Even though Merc says those modules are not repairable.



