Automatic Shifter stuck in Park
 

Today my w212 2011 e350 transmission got stuck in park. The shifter would not engage at all to get the car into drive, neutral or reverse. Its been acting sluggish lately, but today I could not get it to engage at all. I tried restarting, pumping the break, etc...

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.
B.

Look in the center console. There should be a small rectangular rubber "stopper" in the bottom. Pull that back and push in the button that is now exposed and move the shift lever.

Check batteries: 12V/80AH battery engine compartment (part # 0009822108), 1.2AH selector lever backup battery instrument panel (00000004039).

Many thanks...will check it out, however the car has full power. Radio, lights, ignition all work fine. I just can't get the car out of park. It's been acting strange for about a month or two with slow responses when moving from park to drive. The trans itself has been rock solid since I got the car in 2011. Never had any hesitation or skipping.

Thanks again.
B.

I see the W211 seems to have the console plug/access but I can't seem to find it in my W212. I looked in the bottom of the glove box and under the cupholder and coil holder. Maybe I'm missing something obvious?

Aux battery..sounds like

I'm surprised there has been no dash display warning.

Ignition doesn't recognize key maybe.

First, there is no manual release on the W212 with shift by wire system. The ISM is bolted directly to the side of the transmission. Also if the car starts with no issues but will not come out of park, power should not be a problem. The ISM is powered by fuse #88 front the rear SAM. Instead of throwing parts at like everyone is telling you to do, find a competent shop that has Xentry software and ask to peform an actuation of the ISM or a relearn. ISM do go bad. And just to give you a heads up, this part is a TRP part, which means that you either do it at the dealership or find someone that has the appropriate licensing to purchase the part and the correct equipment to program it.

I am curious if there are any conclusive findings on this thread, from someone who actually had and resolved the problem.
My car started doing this about a month ago intermittently, but now it is happening regularly. The car will not shift out of park. I have to shut off the engine, remove the key, re-insert the key and start the car again, and only then will it shift out of park. That process (shut off, remove key, re-insert key, start) has so far always worked.
To those who replaced batteries, did it make a difference? I am still on my original battery.

I recently replaced my main battery and when I started the car it would not go out of park. Had to leave the car on for 10 minutes and then shut it off and then it would work. I think the aux battery may have gone down bit causing the issue, as that battery controls the gear by wire system.

2012 E550 sedan.

My 2012 E350 did this for the first time today. Car has been in the garage for a week straight, and it's been pretty cold here. I had to turn off the ignition, remove key and start again in order for the shifter to work again.

Guessing that AUX battery mentioned by poster above was low on juice.

Does anyone know where the AUX battery is located? I remember its position under the hood on my now sold W211 but never put eyes on it with the W212.

Have you looked in the spare tire area? IIRC, the 2012 M276 cars got auto stop/start and that's where it would be.

In your vehicle it is located in dash left side, see attachment.

thats only true if it does NOT have B03, ECO start/stop.


btw, where do you get those factory service PDFs ?

In the '10 thru '13 model years it is in the left dash panel, open the drivers door and on the end of the dash you can now see with the door open there is a triangular- ish trim panel, it is the size of a home alarm battery and is in a bracket you'll be able to see once you pull the trim panel. only the 14-16 models have a battery in the trunk and only the 14-16 models have start-stop, {thank goodness}

Forum rule number one: Koenigstiger is always right
forum rule number two: See rule one. :cheers: LOL

My 2016 E400 is equipped with ECO and does not use an auxiliary battery in the trunk. Just the main battery and the small AGM in the left side of the dash.

No kidding, surprised they went back to that, is it the E400 only? I have heard the '16 E350's have a trunk battery. I have seen them in the '14's and '15's but I've never been in a '16

yes, my 2016 E350 4matic wagon has a trunk battery.

My 2016 E350 also has the small aux battery in the spare tire well.

Post photos of a dash battery in a 2016?

I thought the E400 was a partial hybrid with a 56 volt system, guess I'll have to do some research, seems hard to believe they would go back to an In-dash battery, but OD says he has one and he has the car.:nix:

I also read an article about suspensions and that the '14-'16 sports were watered down to luxury suspensions just lowered, unlike the '11-'13 which had stiffer springs. So again, confirming that changes were made every model year.:confused:

Those are from Mercedes WIS/EPC. Work instructions / electronic parts catalog.
Mine is a 4 CD set off eBay, about $15. Takes about 64gb on my garage laptop.
You're able to put in your VIN which then applies the instructions and parts to your particular vehicle, including the build sheet.
IMO along with a scan tool this should be part of any DIY toolset.