VERY hard shift, won't shift past 1st gear
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 7
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Mercedes CLK 320
VERY hard shift, won't shift past 1st gear
Hey all, I have a 2005 Mercedes CLK 320 coupe, automatic with 107k miles on it. No accidents. No problems that I'm aware of.
I got into my car this morning, turned it on, and when I went into reverse the shift was VERY hard. Like, enough to shake the car a bit, not a lot, but it was a hard shift. I went into drive thinking that was a one off, and noticed that it wouldn't shift past gear 1. ****. I stopped, with my foot on the break tried putting it in park. I couldn't shift into park at all, the handle wouldn't allow it. If I take my foot off the break I can put it in park. I turned the car off for a while (few minutes), turned it back on. Same problem but now the check engine light is on. I had no previous warnings of anything wrong at all and everything was fine until this morning. Now I'm stranded at home.
tl;dr -> Won't shift past gear 1 in drive, shifts VERY hard from P-->R, R-->D, D-->R. Can't put it in park when my foot is on the brake. Now I'm stranded at home.
Any advice would be appreciated. If you need further information, don't hesitate to ask.
btw, I'm not great with cars. I'm a computer guy so I'm way outside my wheel house here.
I got into my car this morning, turned it on, and when I went into reverse the shift was VERY hard. Like, enough to shake the car a bit, not a lot, but it was a hard shift. I went into drive thinking that was a one off, and noticed that it wouldn't shift past gear 1. ****. I stopped, with my foot on the break tried putting it in park. I couldn't shift into park at all, the handle wouldn't allow it. If I take my foot off the break I can put it in park. I turned the car off for a while (few minutes), turned it back on. Same problem but now the check engine light is on. I had no previous warnings of anything wrong at all and everything was fine until this morning. Now I'm stranded at home.
tl;dr -> Won't shift past gear 1 in drive, shifts VERY hard from P-->R, R-->D, D-->R. Can't put it in park when my foot is on the brake. Now I'm stranded at home.
Any advice would be appreciated. If you need further information, don't hesitate to ask.
btw, I'm not great with cars. I'm a computer guy so I'm way outside my wheel house here.
Last edited by johndoe12345; Sep 28, 2025 at 11:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Mercedes CLK 320
I don't think it has had any trans service as it never had problems. I know the spark plugs were replaces a while back. Fluid...I don't think so. What did you mean by "Don't break the brakes!"?
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: NY
1997 S500, 99 SL500, 88 560SL, 87 BMW 635
Hey all, I have a 2005 Mercedes CLK 320 coupe, automatic with 107k miles on it. No accidents. No problems that I'm aware of.
I got into my car this morning, turned it on, and when I went into reverse the shift was VERY hard. Like, enough to shake the car a bit, not a lot, but it was a hard shift. I went into drive thinking that was a one off, and noticed that it wouldn't shift past gear 1. ****. I stopped, with my foot on the break tried putting it in park. I couldn't shift into park at all, the handle wouldn't allow it. If I take my foot off the break I can put it in park. I turned the car off for a while (few minutes), turned it back on. Same problem but now the check engine light is on. I had no previous warnings of anything wrong at all and everything was fine until this morning. Now I'm stranded at home.
tl;dr -> Won't shift past gear 1 in drive, shifts VERY hard from P-->R, R-->D, D-->R. Can't put it in park when my foot is on the brake. Now I'm stranded at home.
Any advice would be appreciated. If you need further information, don't hesitate to ask.
btw, I'm not great with cars. I'm a computer guy so I'm way outside my wheel house here.
I got into my car this morning, turned it on, and when I went into reverse the shift was VERY hard. Like, enough to shake the car a bit, not a lot, but it was a hard shift. I went into drive thinking that was a one off, and noticed that it wouldn't shift past gear 1. ****. I stopped, with my foot on the break tried putting it in park. I couldn't shift into park at all, the handle wouldn't allow it. If I take my foot off the break I can put it in park. I turned the car off for a while (few minutes), turned it back on. Same problem but now the check engine light is on. I had no previous warnings of anything wrong at all and everything was fine until this morning. Now I'm stranded at home.
tl;dr -> Won't shift past gear 1 in drive, shifts VERY hard from P-->R, R-->D, D-->R. Can't put it in park when my foot is on the brake. Now I'm stranded at home.
Any advice would be appreciated. If you need further information, don't hesitate to ask.
btw, I'm not great with cars. I'm a computer guy so I'm way outside my wheel house here.
I actually find it therapeutic to do the work and you have access to tons of resources online!
Probably your transmission conductor plate. I just did mine a few months ago on my clk550. Doing it myself saved about $4k
Good luck.
