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Hi everyone, Last year I replaced the cheap plastic lever in the shifter module. Everything was fine until the other day, I started the car and I can't get it out of park. The new lever cannot be broken after a little more than a year.I am wondering if the electric ignition switch is not sending the signal to the solenoid in the shifter. Also, can someone with a star system program any new electronic device to your car, or do you have to go to the dealer to get it done. Thanks
Hi, The plastic replacement has about 15 months and 10k miles of careful shifting. When the original part started to crack and actup, I knew what was the problem. It worked perfectly for over a year,and the other day it would not shift out of park. If the new part failed, it would have acted up well before failure. Thanks
Like Cyglee said, put a metal lever in, not plastic, and forget about it. Sorry to see you are in the same spot. By now you know the plastic parts are the weak link on the R230.
Hi kbob999, What stumps me is that up until the night before the car came out of park like butter, the next morning I can't budge it. How can it fail overnight, snapping in half while not under any stress. Thanks
The solenoid that operates the lever is the only stress provided. Step on the brake...solenoid releases lever. Or breaks lever.
If you have a bad brake switch...no solenoid release.
Either can cause stuck in park, but broken lever is very common.
Listen for the solenoid click action at the shifter when you step on the brake. No noise could mean bad brake switch, which is much easier to replace.
Probably just a bad lever that broke when you stepped on the brake to start the car.
If you have a brake light, your brake switch is working.
Replace the lever with metal and never worry it will break again. I did mine as a preventative measure, so I would not be stuck somewhere. Peace of mind, but worth it.
Your right, When my lever started to fail last year, I ordered the part and did not use the car until the day of the repair, I was still able to put the car in drive and get it on a lift. Now I'm stuck in my parking spot nose in. We had to disconnect the linkage at the trans, because we could not get the speed clip and grommet off the shifter, there is very little room between the console and shifter.
We had to disconnect the linkage at the trans, because we could not get the speed clip and grommet off the shifter, there is very little room between the console and shifter.
Yes, I know what you mean. I had to do the same when I replaced the lever on mine. It will test your patience, and little hands help, but you can do it.
Hey guys. Never had an issue with mine until the last few weeks- I can feel the disengage mechanism click everytime I hit the brake. HOWEVER, I need to gently pull back and forth on the shifter until it eventually clicks and comes out of park. It's not getting any worse, just takes about 20 seconds of back and forth and then it releases. Obviously, I have an issue that I need to take care of. Just curious if this is what you guys had before yours failed. I find it odd that if this plastic piece is on the verge of failing, how could it consistently come out of park after some persuasion, every time. Wondering if its a possible solenoid issue.
Hi, It's on its way out, when mine started to go I could still shift the car into drive in order to get the car on the lift. I used the plastic lever which is now broken after a little over a year. It's time to get the aluminum part. You can get stuck at any time.
I need to gently pull back and forth on the shifter until it eventually clicks and comes out of park. It's not getting any worse, just takes about 20 seconds of back and forth and then it releases. Obviously, I have an issue that I need to take care of. Just curious if this is what you guys had before yours failed. I find it odd that if this plastic piece is on the verge of failing, how could it consistently come out of park after some persuasion, every time. Wondering if its a possible solenoid issue.
I don't know what they feel like before failure, as mine had not failed yet.
My guess is your plastic lever is cracked, and hanging by a thread (literally), so it is still able to work after some fiddling. Get it fixed ASAP for $35 in parts, otherwise you need to replace the whole shifter ($$$) once you start taking the hammer to it.
The click you hear means the solenoid works as it should every time you step on the brake. That is normal operation.
Hey, crazy and jay04, please share what you guys find as you dig into that lever. Personally, I have purchased the aluminum part but haven't gotten around to preemptively change it yet. I learn so much from all the forum contributors. Thank you all and good luck.
cyglee - if you need instructions, check into these WIS docs. Probably 2 hours work with a lift...double that without a lift.
Plan to drill holes into the center console support that covers the gear selector allen bolts. They are impossible to access without the holes.
Mine had holes when I bought it...which means a tech drilled them for a shifter replacement prior to me doing the aluminum lever work. MB does not make the aluminum permanent lever part, so you get a new faulty shifter when it breaks.
Thanks for the files, I was just going to look them up to refresh my memory. I don't know how I am going to put the shifter in neutral so I can lift off the console. What happens if I force it.
I recall a suggestion to bang down on the shifter (with significant force) as you pull the shifter out of park. If you have the keyless go, it adds to the drama... and will need some creative padding. Anyone else remember this?
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