GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

Car starts but cant change into gear

Old Dec 16, 2019 | 08:19 PM
  #1  
Brian Paige's Avatar
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GL550 MERCEDES BENZ
Car starts but cant change into gear

I have a 2008 gl550 and it starts up just fine but I cant put it in gear it just stays in park. When I open my door the displays says door open with car not in park. Does anybody know what I need to do I'm stuck. Thank you
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Old Dec 17, 2019 | 05:41 PM
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Hi - in this case you'll probably have some stored trouble codes. Do you have a code reader?

It could be the shifter or it could be the transmission control module, or it could be anything in between - a code reader will tell you where to start looking.

Does it go into any other drive selections, such as neutral or reverse?
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Old Dec 17, 2019 | 06:18 PM
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Thank you for responding to my post. There are no codes coming up at all. It just stays in park no neutral no reverse no drive.
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Old Dec 17, 2019 | 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Brian Paige
Thank you for responding to my post. There are no codes coming up at all. It just stays in park no neutral no reverse no drive.
You need to have someone with star diagnostic test the ISM (intelligent servo module) on the side of the trans and canbus communication between the selector stalk and ISM.
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Old Dec 20, 2019 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by dhurley
You need to have someone with star diagnostic test the ISM (intelligent servo module) on the side of the trans and canbus communication between the selector stalk and ISM.
this

your ism needs to be interrogated...

and my guess is it is toast.
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 03:02 PM
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GL550 MERCEDES BENZ
Thanks again for your help I ended up taking it to my cousin's shop and he has one of those real expensive code readers and all he did was earase the codes and it was good to go to was crazy the only thing he said was I need to get a new battery. But now my battery is dead and now my front seat wont move to get to the battery. I've checked all the fuses . When I was able to jump it all the other seats worked fine but not the one i need the most.lol. so i thought just take the seat out. I'm only able to get to 2 front bolts but the 2 back bolts are impossible to get to cause the seat is to far back. Any suggestions???
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 05:39 PM
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If you were able to get the car running, then that seat should move (obviously). Is there a separate fuse for the passenger seat motor? Also, look underneath to make sure there isn't a plug that's not connected.
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Brian Paige
Thanks again for your help I ended up taking it to my cousin's shop and he has one of those real expensive code readers and all he did was earase the codes and it was good to go to was crazy the only thing he said was I need to get a new battery. But now my battery is dead and now my front seat wont move to get to the battery. I've checked all the fuses . When I was able to jump it all the other seats worked fine but not the one i need the most.lol. so i thought just take the seat out. I'm only able to get to 2 front bolts but the 2 back bolts are impossible to get to cause the seat is to far back. Any suggestions???
Jump start the car to move the seat.
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Old Jan 9, 2020 | 04:58 AM
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'07 GL450
Originally Posted by Max Blast
Jump start the car to move the seat.
+1.

You don't even need to start the vehicle. Just attach the jumper cables to a good battery (and to your vehicle, of course), turn key to position 2, and you should be able to adjust the seats.

Alternatively, apply 12 volts directly to the seat. Detach the power cable from under the seat and use any 12 volt source.

Last edited by Miguk_Saram; Jan 9, 2020 at 05:00 AM.
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Old Jan 9, 2020 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Brian Paige
Thanks again for your help I ended up taking it to my cousin's shop and he has one of those real expensive code readers and all he did was earase the codes and it was good to go to was crazy the only thing he said was I need to get a new battery. But now my battery is dead and now my front seat wont move to get to the battery. I've checked all the fuses . When I was able to jump it all the other seats worked fine but not the one i need the most.lol. so i thought just take the seat out. I'm only able to get to 2 front bolts but the 2 back bolts are impossible to get to cause the seat is to far back. Any suggestions???
Note.. he mentioned he already jump started the car but the seat wouldn't move.
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Old Jan 9, 2020 | 10:14 PM
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Originally Posted by DennisG01
Note.. he mentioned he already jump started the car but the seat wouldn't move.
Ah. Then he’s screwed proper.

12v to the seat direct is the only option.
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Old Feb 9, 2020 | 08:08 AM
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GL550 MERCEDES BENZ
12v to my seat to get it to move. HELP!!

So it looks like I need to hook up a 12v to my seat to move it. Does anybody know what wires under the seat I hook it up too?
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Old Feb 9, 2020 | 10:01 AM
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You didn't mention if you checked for a separate fuse or if you checked for plugs being disconnected (remove, reseat).

Are you sure you can't get creative with tools?

If the seat motor is kaput, it's kaput. Jumping 12V to it isn't going to make a difference.
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