My car won't go into gear...

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Apr 19, 2010 | 06:52 AM
  #1  
Well, it was running just fine and then I parked it. Woke up this morning and it started but it won't go into gear....

Then after a few starts it won't even turn on...

I changed the battery but it didn't help. I used the manual over ride to get it home in limp mode.

Before this started happening, my ABS and BAS lights would come on and then go away... But this morning my check engine light was on also...

I may have been leaking some fluid as well...

Help!
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Apr 19, 2010 | 06:58 AM
  #2  
It said display defective also.
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Apr 20, 2010 | 12:44 AM
  #3  
When you step on the brakes, do the brake lights illuminate? If not, the brake switch is bad and it will stop the car from coming out of park.
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Apr 20, 2010 | 01:11 AM
  #4  
Quote: When you step on the brakes, do the brake lights illuminate? If not, the brake switch is bad and it will stop the car from coming out of park.
if this turns out to be the cause, the threadstarter should buy you a bottle of fine scotch
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Apr 21, 2010 | 03:14 AM
  #5  
Ok I'm gonna try it today. I called my mechanic and told him and he said it was the gear box. But in manual override it shifts just fine so it can't be the gear box right?!?!?
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Apr 22, 2010 | 05:17 AM
  #6  
--Update--

ok the last time I started my car was Sunday when this all happened, when I took it home in manual overdrive.

I just had time now to start it and see if it was the brake light switch. My friend said the brake lights looked a little dim. BUT there was no BAS/ABS/TSP/Check Engine or Defective Displace readout. It went into and out of gear. Kinda seemed a little rough going in and put of gear though but prolly cause I haven't driven it in a few days.

I just started it and played with the gears I didn't drive it...

Like I said I bought a new battery, but also it won't let me roll my driverside window up all the way it automatically rolls it down about 2 inches when I try.

The sunroof jerks forward also not smooth like it use to.

Any ideas???

Thanks guy!!!!
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Apr 22, 2010 | 06:08 AM
  #7  
windows and sunroof will reset and work in a while. you should drive the car and report back
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Apr 22, 2010 | 03:13 PM
  #8  
Ok here's what happen. Put it into gear, but won't shift out of 1st gear. Check engine light is on again... Won't go into park while it's on when I shift it out of park to drive.

The car will drive but will not shift out of 1st into 2nd.
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Apr 22, 2010 | 09:06 PM
  #9  
Have you replaced the $20 brake switch as Marcus asked? Your original post sure sounds like the switch problem (one of the most common issues w/ 208s...abs errors etc..)
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Apr 23, 2010 | 01:01 AM
  #10  
If you disconnected power from the car, the seats, windows, sunroof, ESP, clock, and radio (if OE) have to be reset. If you're not sure how to reset one or more of those things, the instructions at the bottom of this webpage will help.
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Apr 23, 2010 | 07:10 AM
  #11  
Right on thanks guys. Good feed back. I reset all of the windows and such and there back to normal. I'm taking my car to my mech in a little bit.

I went to my friends house in it, started it and then drove it but it kept staying in 1st gear. So I kept stoping and starting it to get it to go into second like it was doing.

Upon doing this, I shifted from park into drive and it slowly slowly started crawling forward. Felt like it was barely in gear. Then all of a sudden it switched into gear and drove just fine. Was shifting perfect From 1st-5th and downshifting perfect from 5th-1st. Shifting from P to R to N to D was just fine as well. So was D to N to R to P. Gearbox felt perfectly normal. Fricken WEIRD. The check engine light was still on though.
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Apr 24, 2010 | 10:48 AM
  #12  
Sounds like you have multiple issues with the car. I have similar issues with the car not shifting right before both my trannys failed on my 99 430. and also on my 04 55.
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Apr 24, 2010 | 03:36 PM
  #13  
So you think it's the transmission? I wonder how much longer I have till it goes out. How much would it be to fix it?
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Apr 24, 2010 | 06:51 PM
  #14  
Confirmed. Stop Lamp Switch was bad. Thanks guys. Saved me some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!
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Apr 25, 2010 | 12:04 PM
  #15  
I am happy it was the Stop lamp switch instead of something much more serious. It cost me $2500 to fix my tranny on my 430 and it cost Mercedes like 12k to 14k to replace my clk 55 tranny, torque converter, radiator, and all the pieces in between.
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Apr 25, 2010 | 03:03 PM
  #16  
12k-14k holy crap! Dang. So is the trasmission on these a coming problem? What signs are common?
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Dec 5, 2012 | 07:57 PM
  #17  
My clk has the same problem, it'll go into drive and will drive but won't shift itself out of 1st gear and just revs up to 6rpm. Could it be the break switch too? Feed back much needed, thanks
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Dec 8, 2012 | 05:53 AM
  #18  
If you're leaking fluids and the gearbox is acting erratic, it's possibly transmission fluid leaking onto the control module.

I had similar problems with my car, and this turned out to be the cause.

I can't remember the name of the part that was leaking, but it was on the top of the gearbox. It may be called the knock valve, or something along those lines.

It's an easy and cheap fix - the part cost around $20.

Could be worth checking out.
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Jun 7, 2016 | 09:02 AM
  #19  
Broken Part
Try checking the plastic part in the shifter assembly, it might be broken. Henceforth, the car won't shift from the Park gear.
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Jun 7, 2016 | 01:52 PM
  #20  
get your car scanned with star
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Jun 9, 2016 | 03:07 AM
  #21  
Thread jack. Lucky the OP came right. Anyone can tell me why my car will sometimes taker longer to engage drive gear than normal. It does it when cold and will rarely do it when hot engine but ya, I will shift it to drive but car will still show Neutral and then it will change over. I don't see any leaks, shifts smoothly but just that issue. Last I did the tranny service, used oem fluid and filter. I checked the connector plug to the tranny and no leaks on the o ring or seal sooooo? Any ideas? Probably TCU needs upgrade or reboot or something? I don't have any engine software done on the car or any other mods.
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Jun 11, 2016 | 01:17 PM
  #22  
Khan it sounds like the pump is starting to fail.

Slow initial engagement likely pump. This transmission has two. Primary pump in front has some wear.

You should test with a pressure gauge, I bet there is low pressure until warm.

Speculation, Cheers Gator
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Jun 13, 2016 | 03:51 AM
  #23  
Thanks Gator. That sounds a bit scary. I will monitor it for now and hope it wont get worse with mileage
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