Trouble
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CLK320
Trouble
So my usually flawless 2000 CLK just presented me with a really issue. It's snowing here on the east coast but not enough to keep me away from work. I decided to call it a half day and come home at lunch. On my ride home some dumb *** plow driver had plowed straight across the main road and created a snow bank in the middle of the road. I slowed down to as slow as I could without getting stuck and pushed through, I barely even felt it. Not 10 seconds later, my BAS light came on. Then seconds later the Check engine light started randomly flashing on and off, almost like it was shorting. Then I received a Display Defective - Visit Workshop on the LCD. This continued for a minute or so then the flashing check engine stopped and all appeared to be well. I should mention when the light was flashing the dials would die for a brief second as well, however I never experienced any loss of power.
So here's the worst part. I get home, pull into the drive way, and the gear shift won't go into Park. It will only go between Neutral and Drive and I no longer have drive. I shut the car off but I can't pull the key out. Eventually I forced the key over and pulled it out at which point I can put the car in Park. I think, "momentary issue", I put the key back in, start the car up. Shift it to reverse, the car goes into reverse with a louder thunk than usual, but I get reverse, I then put it in Drive, again with a loud thunk, and I get drive, but then again I'm locked in Drive / Neutral. Once again I shut the car off, force the key over, put it in Park and there it sits.
What's my next step? Does anyone know what might have happened?
So here's the worst part. I get home, pull into the drive way, and the gear shift won't go into Park. It will only go between Neutral and Drive and I no longer have drive. I shut the car off but I can't pull the key out. Eventually I forced the key over and pulled it out at which point I can put the car in Park. I think, "momentary issue", I put the key back in, start the car up. Shift it to reverse, the car goes into reverse with a louder thunk than usual, but I get reverse, I then put it in Drive, again with a loud thunk, and I get drive, but then again I'm locked in Drive / Neutral. Once again I shut the car off, force the key over, put it in Park and there it sits.
What's my next step? Does anyone know what might have happened?
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Joined: May 2004
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From: St Louis, MO
2000 CLK430, 2012 BMW X5 3.5d
How much snow was on the ground? Did you slam on the brakes? Was there enough snow to clog up your wheels? Possible the snow shorted out something or clogged up the ABS rings. I wouldn't drive it - you may do more damage. Its going to need a scan to pull the trouble codes - you can get a scanner even at Walmart - plug just under the dash beneath the key under a small flap. Return the scanner (OBD II) or get it scanned at somewhere like AutoZone or O'Reilly if you have one close - they'll do it for free. Post the codes. They can't clear the bad codes - BUT again I wouldn't drive it.
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CLK320
No, I just slowed down to like 10mph. There was like an inch on the roadway but the bank in the middle of the road was like a foot high. This stuff is really slushy stuff though so I barely felt it. I may just catch rides to work till the weekend when it's supposed to be 60 out and I'll see if I can see anything. Don't have a reader. If I get codes I'll post them.
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CLK320
Update: So I got out to the car yesterday. Started it up and everything appears to be back to normal. I drove it around town over some bumpy roads and train tracks to try to make sure it couldn't be knocked loose again. When I go back to the house I put it up on jack stands and tried to get under the car, but the jack stands didn't get the car high enough for me to get a good look. I drove the car about 40 minutes out to my girlfriends father's house to put it on his lift today. Once under there we took a look at shifter rod, intermediate leverl and all the bushings in between. Both of them were present and appeard to be functional. See the pictures below. My assumption now is that a piece of ice or packed in snow got shoved up inside and caused the problem. If anyone sees anything questionable let me know.
Shifter Bushing
Second Bushing
Shifter Bushing
Second Bushing
