CLK - will not move to reverse on startup

[CLK Man]

My CLK - a X reg 230K auto - has decided to refuse to go into reverse.

I noted there was a slight delay in the car starting which made me suspect there be a problem, thought I was hoping it was a weak battery (though there has been no sign of that in the past). Other strange things in the recent past - say last 6 months - has been the total loss of signals / indicators - which suddenly disappearred and came back after a few miles driving.

What I need to know is how can I release the gear stick to allow me to use my car. Also, what causes it to happen - I need the car to be running well as I be off on holidays aboard in the next week.

Any tips and advice is gratefully received

Regards,

CLK Man

 

[kammy]

kammy

hi, try pressing the brake pedal at the same time!!!

 

[CLK Man]

Kammy, I did - very hard - that my foot hurt......

 

[Blobcat]

I wonder if a new battery would cure you of your car ills. There are quite a few threads on battery voltage being slightly low which results in a lot of seemingly unrelated problems.

 

[kammy]

kammy

soz m8 cant help you on moving the gearstick but maybe the selectors in the gearbox need replacing????

 

[television]

Sinse reverse is the first gate on the selector,what you are saying is that you cannot move the shift at all.

malcolm

 

[CLK Man]

Thats correct - television - I cannot move stick at all - only slightly to side but not back

 

[television]

Thats correct - television - I cannot move stick at all - only slightly to side but not back

X reg could be 208 or 209 first 6 VIN numbers please 208---? or 209---?

See what I can find this evening.

Malcolm

 

[CLK Man]

hi, no is 208348; thanks Malcolm.

 

[television]

The reason for the lock up should be the brake light switch, cost about £9 easy to fit,just one 17mm nut. its over the brake pedal.

this should cure it, good luck.

Malcolm

 

[psmart]

Interestingly, Ive had this issue, where the car is in Park and you cannot shift to Reverse, Neutral or Drive, but mine was down to leaving the vehicle for extended periods at -30 - -40'c. Running the engine for 20 minutes seemed to cure it! One time this happened, I managed to get the car into drive and the box locked in 1st gear until the engine was warm!

Indie added more oil to the auto-box and the problem never re-occurred!

 

[television]

Interestingly, Ive had this issue, where the car is in Park and you cannot shift to Reverse, Neutral or Drive, but mine was down to leaving the vehicle for extended periods at -30 - -40'c. Running the engine for 20 minutes seemed to cure it! One time this happened, I managed to get the car into drive and the box locked in 1st gear until the engine was warm!

Indie added more oil to the auto-box and the problem never re-occurred!

This one is damage code 54 311 73 I have had it before but I forgot the answer, this brake switch has different effects on other cars.

Malcolm

 

[type49]

Get a pen & poke it down the little flap directly below the "D". Have a gentle poke up & down while gentle pulling the lever out of park. It will come out. This is not a cure but at least you can then drive it. I assume the engine runs?

 

[television]

Get a pen & poke it down the little flap directly below the "D". Have a gentle poke up & down while gentle pulling the lever out of park. It will come out. This is not a cure but at least you can then drive it. I assume the engine runs?

All cars do not have this hole or flap and the brake light switch has got to be changed to avoid further damage to the ETC.

Malcolm

 

[CLK Man]

Thanks all for your tips; Malcolm - this £9 switch you mention - is that same one which puts the brake lights on? Thing is - my brake lights do come on. Also the car is parked on a slope facing down - but I often park it in this position and never had any problems.

Re post regarding battery voltage - car starts ok - did seem to be a slight delay tho before it fired up - but was started. Would the battery have any bearing on this problem of not getting car from park? Also would the slight delay in turning engine over have any meaning - ie my key fob battery is weaker than it should be and the system for moving the gear stick is somehow linked to the slight delay i noticed and therefore the key fob battery / immobiliser??

Any more tips / advice anyone??

Cheers

CLK Man

 

[television]

This switch will not effect the brake lights, and has a different effect on all cars.

the slight leakage kills the speed signal that the car needs to run the DAS. when the fault first starts it could delay the starting of the car owing to the confused info it is recieving.

The info I gave was a known issue with your exact car and done by the VIN.

the same fault came up once last year and it solved that one.

Malcolm

 

[CLK Man]

Thanks Malcolm for ur help; i have found the small flap below the D and have moved the car and ran it for an hour on idle.

Time I get this 9 pound switch then....

Regards

 

[television]

Thanks Malcolm for ur help; i have found the small flap below the D and have moved the car and ran it for an hour on idle.

Time I get this 9 pound switch then....

Regards

So pleased that you are out of trouble, have a nice day.

Malcolm

 

[Prestwick9]

Had simlar problem, had to turn off ignition to select gear. Turns out all i needed was to change ATF and filter. Cost around £200, cheaper than replacing control unit. £600.

 

[Stircrazy]

Bet it is the brake light switch!

My hat is off to television for his advice (even if it is not!)