Sloppy Auto Transmission Shift Lever FIX
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 577
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From: PA
W223 S500 LWB 4-Matic, W222 S450 LWB 4-Matic, A238 E400 Cabriolet 4-Matic
Sloppy Auto Transmission Shift Lever FIX
Fixed a sloppy auto transmission shift lever. It caused the transmission to not immediately change gears from Park to Reverse to Drive or otherwise bang into gear. When I was underneath the car I saw that the linkage rod that goes from the shift lever to the transmission was missing a rubber grommet at the transmission input lever.
Ordered up a couple of these grommets from FCP as they are not expensive. "Mercedes Manual Trans Shift Rod Bushing - Febi @ $1 each: 2109920010"
Now there is not a lot of room between the tunnel and that linkage to get your hand up in there to try to install that bushing on the transmission input lever. What I did was remove the spring clip that holds to linkage bar "pin" to the input lever with a long set of needle nose pliers. I cut the "lip" off of only one side of the rubber grommet. Then installed the grommet on the linkage rod "pin" with the remaining lip side of the grommet towards the rod. This is not factory as they would have you install the uncut grommet on the input lever first as designed. I lubed up the grommet and was able to easily push the linkage rod into the transmission input lever. Sounds sexy I know. Then push on the retainer clip and your done. Easy cheap quality-of-life fix.
Ordered up a couple of these grommets from FCP as they are not expensive. "Mercedes Manual Trans Shift Rod Bushing - Febi @ $1 each: 2109920010"
Now there is not a lot of room between the tunnel and that linkage to get your hand up in there to try to install that bushing on the transmission input lever. What I did was remove the spring clip that holds to linkage bar "pin" to the input lever with a long set of needle nose pliers. I cut the "lip" off of only one side of the rubber grommet. Then installed the grommet on the linkage rod "pin" with the remaining lip side of the grommet towards the rod. This is not factory as they would have you install the uncut grommet on the input lever first as designed. I lubed up the grommet and was able to easily push the linkage rod into the transmission input lever. Sounds sexy I know. Then push on the retainer clip and your done. Easy cheap quality-of-life fix.
