P1911 and no start
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
W220 S55 supercharged
P1911 and no start
Hi, everyone. I have a no-start condition on my 03 S55. The only apparently relevant code from DAS is P1911: the link between control module N15/5 (electronic selector lever module) and shifter illumination is interrupted. If shifter illumination is the backlight on the shifter, that works. What doesn’t work is the shift indicator on the instrument cluster. The gear selected doesn’t display on the dash.
It looks like the car won’t start because it doesn’t recognize it is in park.
Relevant: the shifter has been difficult to shift into or out of park. Now that it won’t start, the gear selector moves freely. Before I dig into the tunnel area can anyone with experience tell me if there is anything repairable on the shifter?
if I have to replace the shifter, I’ve read that it must either be a new one or a good used unit purchased with the three theft relevant modules off the same car - the ignition switch & key, shifter and ECU. This car has keyless go, and I hate to think of finding the right used parts. Alternatively, the EEPROM on the shifter (I think) could be transplanted from my car to the donor part.
Ideally, I’d like to repair the shifter, if possible. Any tips are welcomed.
It looks like the car won’t start because it doesn’t recognize it is in park.
Relevant: the shifter has been difficult to shift into or out of park. Now that it won’t start, the gear selector moves freely. Before I dig into the tunnel area can anyone with experience tell me if there is anything repairable on the shifter?
if I have to replace the shifter, I’ve read that it must either be a new one or a good used unit purchased with the three theft relevant modules off the same car - the ignition switch & key, shifter and ECU. This car has keyless go, and I hate to think of finding the right used parts. Alternatively, the EEPROM on the shifter (I think) could be transplanted from my car to the donor part.
Ideally, I’d like to repair the shifter, if possible. Any tips are welcomed.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 538
Likes: 89
From: Hollywood, CA
W209, W124
I think this is one of shifters that sometimes has bad solder joints on the opto-couplers. They are electric switches that tell electronically which gear it is in.
Should be plenty of info on this out there, also occurs on R230
Should be plenty of info on this out there, also occurs on R230
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
W220 S55 supercharged
Good suggestion, thank you. But I did some more digging and the issue appears to be elsewhere. I hooked DAS back up this afternoon and checked the ESM. The actual shift lever position correlates to the ESM data correctly. So, it seems the car is getting correct data about shifter position and knows when it is in park.
I found another fault code, though: “9305 interior CAN bus: short circuit in CAN lines”. Status is current and stored.
So I followed with an Interior CAN Check. Control unit and actual values follow.
3004, 3005, 3006, 3008, 3009, 9304, 9305, 9306, 9308, 9309
The shift gate illumination fault is still present but I think that’s an incidental finding as the shift gate is lit with the headlights on. I erased that one. Hope I don’t regret it later but I saved pictures.
I’m new at Xentry. Is any of this telling me what the problem may be? If yes, I’ll look for some help with the diagnostic tree because I’m no electrician.
I found another fault code, though: “9305 interior CAN bus: short circuit in CAN lines”. Status is current and stored.
So I followed with an Interior CAN Check. Control unit and actual values follow.
- communication through the interior CAN bus is fault free. ✅
- CAN communication (single wire mode). -F-
- CAN communication (signal failure or control module power line is defective). -I-
- According to the specified configuration of the interior CAN bus, the control module is installed in the vehicle. [no actual value present]
- According to the specified configuration of the interior CAN bus, the control module is not installed in the vehicle [no actual value present]
3004, 3005, 3006, 3008, 3009, 9304, 9305, 9306, 9308, 9309
The shift gate illumination fault is still present but I think that’s an incidental finding as the shift gate is lit with the headlights on. I erased that one. Hope I don’t regret it later but I saved pictures.
I’m new at Xentry. Is any of this telling me what the problem may be? If yes, I’ll look for some help with the diagnostic tree because I’m no electrician.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
The usual testing mode with DAS is to pull all of the codes, write all codes down, erase all codes, shut everything down, then restart the car and pull the codes. That should get rid of all of the random stored (f) codes, and you can start checking with the current (F) codes.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
W220 S55 supercharged
Good suggestion. But the car won’t start, so it may not show me what’s really there. I’m not sure if I clear everything that it will come back just by turning the key to on position. But, worth a try. I’ll capture all the faults first, just in case.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
Firmly apply the parking brake. Firmly press and hold the brake pedal. Turn the key to the START position and hold it there. Slowly move the shift lever into each position and back to PARK.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
W220 S55 supercharged
Solved. To close this one out, it needed an EIS. To clarify, it had a no-crank, no-start condition.
I cleared the codes using Xentry, then wasn’t able to connect to the EIS from Xentry at all. Called in the cavalry in the form of an MB dealer tech friend, who diagnosed a bad EIS by bypassing all the theft-relevant safeguards (car then started and ran) and checking the physical ignition circuits. He also recommended a new shifter based on its wonky behavior. I sourced a reman shifter from Beckmann Technologies in North Carolina. It features an upgraded aluminum interlock lever and arrives ready to program. There were no issues marrying it to the car. The EIS is NLA from Mercedes but my friend found one in his dealership inventory. When available, it was $1,250 but I got it for a better price. It required a dealership tool and a “blue key” to marry the new EIS to the car. Got the car back this weekend and it’s back to its usual self and running fine.
I cleared the codes using Xentry, then wasn’t able to connect to the EIS from Xentry at all. Called in the cavalry in the form of an MB dealer tech friend, who diagnosed a bad EIS by bypassing all the theft-relevant safeguards (car then started and ran) and checking the physical ignition circuits. He also recommended a new shifter based on its wonky behavior. I sourced a reman shifter from Beckmann Technologies in North Carolina. It features an upgraded aluminum interlock lever and arrives ready to program. There were no issues marrying it to the car. The EIS is NLA from Mercedes but my friend found one in his dealership inventory. When available, it was $1,250 but I got it for a better price. It required a dealership tool and a “blue key” to marry the new EIS to the car. Got the car back this weekend and it’s back to its usual self and running fine.
Last edited by MidwestLS; Dec 9, 2025 at 03:14 PM.
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