Shifting to Neutral with no power?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 105
2014 E350
Shifting to Neutral with no power?
OK, so I looked at the manual and searched both here and Google. Still unclear about some bits.
Does anyone here have a definitive answer as to how to put a 2014 E350 into Neutral should it need to be towed? From what I gather:
1. Remove keyless-go button and put the key into the ignition: turn key to the 2nd click.
2. Tranny selector will now go to Neutral ...right? But will it stay in Neutral there if I turn the key to off?
3. If battery is dead, will the Aux Battery (for the Eco function) power the system and trans such that I will be able to get into Neutral with the stalk?
4. If the car will still not go into Neutral, will jumping the battery (or just connecting it via jumper cables without actually starting the dead car) be enough to power the system to get it into Neutral?
Stranded with two blowouts last week got me thinking about all this as we did have to get towed home. But I simply started the car and left it idling in Neutral (sitting IN the car so as to prevent it from going into to Park) as the towing guy cabled the car up the flatbed. Definitive answers to the above points would be MOST appreciated!
Edward
Does anyone here have a definitive answer as to how to put a 2014 E350 into Neutral should it need to be towed? From what I gather:
1. Remove keyless-go button and put the key into the ignition: turn key to the 2nd click.
2. Tranny selector will now go to Neutral ...right? But will it stay in Neutral there if I turn the key to off?
3. If battery is dead, will the Aux Battery (for the Eco function) power the system and trans such that I will be able to get into Neutral with the stalk?
4. If the car will still not go into Neutral, will jumping the battery (or just connecting it via jumper cables without actually starting the dead car) be enough to power the system to get it into Neutral?
Stranded with two blowouts last week got me thinking about all this as we did have to get towed home. But I simply started the car and left it idling in Neutral (sitting IN the car so as to prevent it from going into to Park) as the towing guy cabled the car up the flatbed. Definitive answers to the above points would be MOST appreciated!
Edward
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 268
Likes: 35
From: Western Massachusetts
2019 S450 Silver w/ black interior
Ed,
Check pages 364-367 of the owners manual. It says power must be present to the battery. So yes, if you have a dead battery, you may need jumpers just to get juice to the battery in order to get it into neutral and back into park. Hope that helps....
Check pages 364-367 of the owners manual. It says power must be present to the battery. So yes, if you have a dead battery, you may need jumpers just to get juice to the battery in order to get it into neutral and back into park. Hope that helps....
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 268
Likes: 35
From: Western Massachusetts
2019 S450 Silver w/ black interior
And with regards to your question #2, the car will go into park once you open the drivers door. So my suggestion is get a jump, put car in neutral, get it put up on flatbed, put car in park and remove key. When you get to destination. Jump car again, put it in neutral and get car off the flatbed, then get the battery charged fully or replace it as necessary.
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 600
Likes: 45
From: Minneapolis, MN/Breckenridge, CO
2010 E550 4Matic Sport P2
It really is a terrible design/engineering flaw. When I was trying to find a noise in my driveline, and determined it was in the driveshaft, I could not put the car on a lift, leave it in neutral (so as to be able to rotate the driveshaft and access all flex disk bolts) without raising and lowering the car. On a lift, leaving the car on a charger isn't viable or safe due to cord lengths and avoiding battery drain is best. I get the that they want to prevent the car from rolling down a hill, but there should be an over ride of some sort.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 268
Likes: 35
From: Western Massachusetts
2019 S450 Silver w/ black interior
It really is a terrible design/engineering flaw. When I was trying to find a noise in my driveline, and determined it was in the driveshaft, I could not put the car on a lift, leave it in neutral (so as to be able to rotate the driveshaft and access all flex disk bolts) without raising and lowering the car. On a lift, leaving the car on a charger isn't viable or safe due to cord lengths and avoiding battery drain is best. I get the that they want to prevent the car from rolling down a hill, but there should be an over ride of some sort.
The OP's concern is with an overall dead battery
Just curious....
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 105
2014 E350
Ahhh, ok, all. And thanks for the specific pages in the manual ...I hunted and saw reference to it, but maybe may have missed that exact phrase you quoted.
Agreed, it seems like without an over-ride of sorts, it's more cumbersome and troublesome than the supposed "safety" it imparts. Not to mention how ridiculously impractical is it to jump a car when it's on the flatbed just to get it off the flatbed ...sheeesh!!! Yet another electro-nanny I could easily do without. Again, big thanks, gents!!!
Edward
Agreed, it seems like without an over-ride of sorts, it's more cumbersome and troublesome than the supposed "safety" it imparts. Not to mention how ridiculously impractical is it to jump a car when it's on the flatbed just to get it off the flatbed ...sheeesh!!! Yet another electro-nanny I could easily do without. Again, big thanks, gents!!!
Edward
Last edited by Edward993; Feb 26, 2017 at 07:26 PM.
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 1
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GL 450
"1. Remove keyless-go button and put the key into the ignition: turn key to the 2nd click."
my battery died for some reason in 65 deg F weather, registering 4 volts. Charging isnt bringing it up. I put the fobkey in but it wont turn, i think power is reqd.
my battery died for some reason in 65 deg F weather, registering 4 volts. Charging isnt bringing it up. I put the fobkey in but it wont turn, i think power is reqd.
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