Benz@70605

I'm trying to disconnect the gear shifter linkage from transmission with car stuck in park on my SL550. Can anyone tell me how to do it?

cdk4219

You can get to it from the bottom, ate yiu trying to get the shifter out so yiu can repair the lock pawl?

cdk4219

If so you have to get the shifter out of park to get the console trim off. That’s the tricky part.

MikeJ65

Remove the shifter knob, put slight pressure on the shifter lever to the right and back, hit the top of the shifter with a soft face hammer or 2x4. It might take a few tries, but it should pop out of park.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

And if that doesn't work, use a BIGGER hammer. 🤪

There is a plastic brake pedal interlock that requires applying the brake to move the shifter out of Park. It breaks. There are aftermarket metal replacement pieces. If you remove the broken piece and put nothing back, the shifter still works, but allows you to shift without applying the brake. That may fail a safety inspection, depending on where you are.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

There are YouTube videos on how to replace the broken piece.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

You will need to get under the car and disconnect the shifter linkage to the transmission to remove the shifter assembly to fix the broken piece.

Tom Manning

There is a plastic brake pedal interlock that requires applying the brake to move the shifter out of Park. It breaks. There are aftermarket metal replacement pieces. If you remove the broken piece and put nothing back, the shifter still works, but allows you to shift without applying the brake. That may fail a safety inspection, depending on where you are.

Also it will allow anyone to shift the car out of park and roll it away. No steering lock on the R230. And it will allow you to knock the lever out of D and into any other gear at speed - probably undesirable.

Remove the lockout pawl without replacing it at your discretion...

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Search YouTube for "mercedes r230 shifter repair". Here's one to get you started.

Carpedmman

I experienced this same issue on my ‘07 SL 550 and in my research I discovered that there’s a relay switch directly above your brake foot, which allows the transmission to shift gears. If this relay fails, the third brake light won’t illuminate, and the transmission won’t release.

I suggest checking this relay before disconnecting the transmission in anyway. Good luck!

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Actually, applying the brake and seeing if the brake lights come on should be a real easy test. Good call to check that switch. But the hammer approach is much more fun!

Carpedmman

something about a hammer and a Mercedes- I don’t like the outcome!!!

Benz@70605

No, this whole problem started while scanning my car and finding that the Snap On scanner that I 2as using said that the version of my ECU was not recognized by the scanner and told me to please select one of the eight versions below. I did so to no avail and kept changing versions until I got to the last one. When I got to the last one now when I turn on the ignition I have no power to instrument cluster or anything!

Benz@70605

I'm trying to remove the center console to get to my ignition switch

Benz@70605

Thanks for the detailed process steps. That's exactly what I'm trying to do is remove the center console so I can access my ignition switch but have not been able to get it off because of the shifter lever.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Ignition switch? You don't remove the console for that. Is that what you meant to say? See the attached.