2002 E430 Transmission Stuck in First
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
2004 S55 AMG 1998 E430
2002 E430 Transmission Stuck in First
Hey All,
I recently picked up a 2002 E430 RWD model that had been sitting a few years and seems to be stuck in first or second gear. I replaced the battery yesterday, car starts and runs just fine, but the gear indicator on the dash displays a blank box no matter what gear you are in.
I can put the car in reverse or drive, and it will move in those gears, but not shift further. I was told it would need the conductor plate, which I plan on replacing, but could this be an issue with the shifter box itself?
Any help is appreciated. Also, the car does clunk fairly hard in the drive gears.
I recently picked up a 2002 E430 RWD model that had been sitting a few years and seems to be stuck in first or second gear. I replaced the battery yesterday, car starts and runs just fine, but the gear indicator on the dash displays a blank box no matter what gear you are in.
I can put the car in reverse or drive, and it will move in those gears, but not shift further. I was told it would need the conductor plate, which I plan on replacing, but could this be an issue with the shifter box itself?
Any help is appreciated. Also, the car does clunk fairly hard in the drive gears.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,975
Likes: 1,321
From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
You need to put it on a star diagnostic system to verify it is an issue with the conductor plate. It could be something as simple as the electrical bushing that feeds the wire harness into the transmission has gone bad and oil is seeping up the wires into the tcu. No matter what, even if you do end up replacing the conductor plate, you must use a star diagnostic system or equivalent to clear all stored codes before the transmission will begin shifting properly again.
Edit: if it is the electronic shift module the star diagnostic system will provide current codes to indicate if the problem is in the shift module rather than the transmission. I would recommend you clear all codes and then check to see which codes come back as current. Repair the current code issues and clear any stored codes dealing with the transmission.
Edit: if it is the electronic shift module the star diagnostic system will provide current codes to indicate if the problem is in the shift module rather than the transmission. I would recommend you clear all codes and then check to see which codes come back as current. Repair the current code issues and clear any stored codes dealing with the transmission.
Last edited by bbirdwell; Jul 19, 2022 at 02:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
2004 S55 AMG 1998 E430
You need to put it on a star diagnostic system to verify it is an issue with the conductor plate. It could be something as simple as the electrical bushing that feeds the wire harness into the transmission has gone bad and oil is seeping up the wires into the tcu. No matter what, even if you do end up replacing the conductor plate, you must use a star diagnostic system or equivalent to clear all stored codes before the transmission will begin shifting properly again.
Edit: if it is the electronic shift module the star diagnostic system will provide current codes to indicate if the problem is in the shift module rather than the transmission. I would recommend you clear all codes and then check to see which codes come back as current. Repair the current code issues and clear any stored codes dealing with the transmission.
Edit: if it is the electronic shift module the star diagnostic system will provide current codes to indicate if the problem is in the shift module rather than the transmission. I would recommend you clear all codes and then check to see which codes come back as current. Repair the current code issues and clear any stored codes dealing with the transmission.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/my...-plug.1570724/
read up as much as you can as well. it is also possible (if you're lucky) that the conductor plate replacement isn't necessary and that it is just a plug issue. if you plan and work on it in progressive fashion, you may be fortunate that isn't a more spendy fix.
read up as much as you can as well. it is also possible (if you're lucky) that the conductor plate replacement isn't necessary and that it is just a plug issue. if you plan and work on it in progressive fashion, you may be fortunate that isn't a more spendy fix.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
Very important, good point, Plutoe! just because a diagnostic tool has a round, 38 pin physical connector does not guarantee that it possesses the firmware with the necessary protocols to handshake with the MB sensors. Be sure to seek a guarantee from the vendor that it will read MB transmission modules.... or that other forum members have successfully used the diagnostic tool for this exact purpose already.
