Park Brake Not Disengaging On Shift to R or D
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
AMG GTS
Park Brake Not Disengaging On Shift to R or D
Twice now I have shifted to reverse out of the garage after start up, and the gear did
not engage. Seemed to stay in neutral even with revving a bit. Same with Drive. Both times
it eventually popped into the gear with a higher rev, but with a scary clunk sound. Then worked fine. Has happened
twice out of a hundred start-ups. Anyone experienced this phenomenon? Thx
not engage. Seemed to stay in neutral even with revving a bit. Same with Drive. Both times
it eventually popped into the gear with a higher rev, but with a scary clunk sound. Then worked fine. Has happened
twice out of a hundred start-ups. Anyone experienced this phenomenon? Thx
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 25
Likes: 7
From: Santa Monica, CA
2016 AMG GTS
Twice now I have shifted to reverse out of the garage after start up, and the gear did
not engage. Seemed to stay in neutral even with revving a bit. Same with Drive. Both times
it eventually popped into the gear with a higher rev, but with a scary clunk sound. Then worked fine. Has happened
twice out of a hundred start-ups. Anyone experienced this phenomenon? Thx
not engage. Seemed to stay in neutral even with revving a bit. Same with Drive. Both times
it eventually popped into the gear with a higher rev, but with a scary clunk sound. Then worked fine. Has happened
twice out of a hundred start-ups. Anyone experienced this phenomenon? Thx
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
Likes: 10
From: Vancouver, BC
18' AMG GTC, 03' CLK430, 15" GL350
Long shot here, but did you wash the car and then park it? I thought there was something wrong the first time I washed it and then parked the car, because the brakes almost "rust" and the brakes semi bond to the rotors. And once you give it some revs they unbond with a pretty substantial clunk sound. Although, in my experience, I've never had an issue with the car not going into gear during this.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
AMG GTS
Seat belt not fastened, but then again it never is at that point. Car gets washed but this last
one did not follow a wash. The clunk feels like it is in the middle of the car and more like a it is
breaking out from something holding it in place.
I had it inspected at the dealer the first time and of course they could not replicate it and their diagnostics
found no issues. Very odd, especially since so infrequent.
one did not follow a wash. The clunk feels like it is in the middle of the car and more like a it is
breaking out from something holding it in place.
I had it inspected at the dealer the first time and of course they could not replicate it and their diagnostics
found no issues. Very odd, especially since so infrequent.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: DMV
AMG GTBS, AMG GTR Pro, AMG GT, C63 AMG, Porsche Panamera 4S, RX-7 FC Turbo II
This really sounds like your brake caliper/pad seizing up against a rotor. It’s happened to me a couple of times on the next cold start after washing the car following a drive. It’s downright scary. The thump sound is literally the sound of the pad breaking loose from the rotor. To prevent this problem if you have it, drive the car around the block with some light braking after washing the car.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 37
Likes: 19
From: Durham, NC
2024 AMG G63, AMG GTC Edition 50 Coupe
Mine did it right after I got it and washed it the first time. It sat in the garage about a week after wash before I went to drive it. It felt like it was not going into gear and would not move. I called 3 local dealers and no one had ever hear of this problem. I had a Mercedes Master Tech to try to help me via email and he thought the ebrake was not disengaging and advised me to disconnect/reconnect the battery to see if that would solve the problem. It did not. MB was getting ready to send a tow truck over and I read on the P forum about similar happenings. I went out and cranked it up and really gave it the gas. It made such a horrific noise (almost like a shotgun being fired) that my wife heard it inside our house. Looked at the rotors and you could tell where it seized. Now after wash I move it a few times to prevent happening again.
Last edited by matteRAT; Feb 25, 2020 at 06:52 AM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 24
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AMG GT
Mine did it right after I got it and washed it the first time. It sat in the garage about a week after wash before I went to drive it. It felt like it was not going into gear and would not move. I called 3 local dealers and no one had ever hear of this problem. I had a Mercedes Master Tech to try to help me via email and he thought the ebrake was not disengaging and advised me to disconnect/reconnect the battery to see if that would solve the problem. It did not. MB was getting ready to send a tow truck over and I read on the P forum about similar happenings. I went out and cranked it up and really gave it the gas. It made such a horrific noise (almost like a shotgun being fired) that my wife heard it inside our house. Looked at the rotors and you could tell where it seized. Now after wash I move it a few times to prevent happening again.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Florida
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
My 16 Maybach does the clunk if it sits for a week or so with no driving. It’s like the pads stick to a rusting rotor. My 18 GTC does not do the clunk but I have the ceramic brakes.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
AMG GTS
Thanks! If this really is a brake issue, I will be very relieved. It is a scary noise that shakes the whole car.
The fact it has only happened in the garage leaving the house points to the brake theory too.
The fact it has only happened in the garage leaving the house points to the brake theory too.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Florida
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
If I recall there is a way to shut down car with parking brake disengaged. If you park car for extended periods try that and I bet you won’t have a clunk when you go to drive the car.
If I recall you shut down car with parking brAke switch pulled to release position to keep parking brake from setting. Give it a try.
If I recall you shut down car with parking brAke switch pulled to release position to keep parking brake from setting. Give it a try.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 257
Likes: 112
From: Delray Beach, FL
'18 AMG GTC, '96 BMW 318i, '25 Ram RHO
After the first time I washed the car, it felt stuck until I rev-ed the engine and then THUNK. It kind of freaked me out. Turns out it was nothing more than the pads adhering to the rotors. Now I always pull the parking brake release I after I wash it. If that's all it is, then it's normal.
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Joined: Jun 2014
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From: 🇨🇦
W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
You’re supposed to drive around the block after a wash, to prevent the pads from sticking to the rotors.
I drive mine very little - once every week or sometimes every 2 weeks, and this has not happened. I would get the brakes looked it.
I drive mine very little - once every week or sometimes every 2 weeks, and this has not happened. I would get the brakes looked it.
Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 113
Likes: 46
From: West Newton, MA
Solarbeam Yellow 2016 AMG GTS
After you wash it, when you park it in the garage or the like, pull on the parking release handle to release it (hold it and foot off the brake) and shut the engine off. The emergency brake will not engage and this won't happen.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 18
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From: Minneapolis,MN
2016 AMG GTS / 2015 S63
I always disengage the e-brake before putting in to gear. It eliminates the normal hesitation, on these cars, of rolling. I have always had to do this on any of my Mercedes cars. Of course, that is not referring to the loud clunk noise some of you have experienced.
