2001CLK

My shifter is not working on my 01clk320. Normally when you start your car and foot on the brakes the shifter will let you shift to your desired gear. Today when I started my car it wouldn’t let me shift out of park while pressing the brakes.

What’s going on??? Is there a fuse for this??

Now the only way I can drive is to use a pen to disengage the park lock.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

gregory13lil

The only thing that controls the brake light is the Brake Light Switch located under the Brake pedal. Sound like this switch is no good.

Greg

2001CLK

So your saying the switch is bad causing the shifter to be stuck in park???

muskratbenz

There is a cable that runs from the rear of the rear of transmission (just beside the trans fluid pan) to the shift lever assembly called a shift interlock cable. It's pretty durable, and is routed up through the floor pan, so it's not a common failure - but it can happen. If you can get under the car, you can push it forward at the trans entry point, and if someone is inside the car they will be able to shift out of P (car does not have to running). Try the brake switch part first, though. It is only a $20 part - and a common failure (although it does not lock the car in P on all models - sometimes it just kills the brake lights). It is a fifteen minute switch (lots of instructions if you search site). Should that not work, PM me and I'll send some photos and instructions for the interlock cable. $60 part - and simple mechanical hookup, but a pain in the *** to access. Also there is on more possible failure involving a spring in the shifter assembly. You can see it to the right of the shifter if you pull the trim around the shifter up.

gregory13lil

It does lock it on many models because the car will not detect that the brake has been puhed and will then not allow the car to come out of park.

Greg

2001CLK

Interesting.. I'll have to look into it..

I did a search in the forums and found that people had this problem because of broken lever in the gear box area. These were older models though (2000-2001).

takaseem

2001CLK, did you find out the problem with your "stuck in park" deal?

I have a 2001 E320 with 62K on it. I never had this problem, but 5 days ago it was hard to get it out of Park (took pressure to get it out). This morning it happened 3 or 4 times. I thought it had to do with the 19 F degrees temp we had this morning. I would put it back in park and try to get it out softly it won't come out unless I pull hard.

I then put shif in D then moved it back to 4, 3, 2, 1 then back to 1, 2, 3, 4, D couple of times. Then I turned it off and things worked fine after that.

After researching this issue though, I am concerned I may have something that may come back to haunt me. So far researching forums shows that either most problems were fixed by brake switch or ESM (Electronic Shifter Module) replacement. The latter gets shorted due to spillage of liquids (coffee, rain though Sun Roof left open....etc).

I'd appreciate your input into how you fixed this issue.

Mr Pie

I had the same problem of getting my w208 out of Park and the replacement of the brake light switch resolved the problem. I am now getting the ABS, BAS warning lights on the w210 so I think it might be time to replace the switch on the w210 as well.