E Class Man
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2003
- Messages
- 9
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Hi
Last weekend packed up sailing dinghy sail in pouring rain and placed rolled up sail in my 320 cdi estate (W 2000 Reg - W210). Unknown to me at the time, and whilst packing up the rest of the boat stuff, rain water in the sail was steadily dripping onto centre console around gear stick.
Initially car wouldn't start and most warning lights were on.
On realising what had happened I mopped up water and removed trim and winter/summer (W/S) rocker switch to reveal a lot of water underneath switch and on top of the circuit board below.
After mopping up further, car started with fewer warning lights and I drove home with gear box in 2nd (limp home mode) where it has remained since.
After more drying out I tried to remove the whole assembley from the car to dry it properly by removing the the 3 allen headed bolts securing the base of the whole unit to the transmission tunnel. This unit appears to be attached by some linkage underneath. So I didn't force it, I just bolted it down again. There is a muiltipin plug connector on the front of the gear stick unit which may well have got wet but I can't remove the connector as it is too inaccessible and again I don't want to break it. Have left it for 24hrs with an electric fan heater running on the area to dry it out properly.
Engine now starts fine and no warning lights displayed or malfunction messages. However The park P display remains displayed irrespective of lever position and gear box is still only offers park, 2nd gear or reverse.
Also the solenoid lock which prevents movement from park when foot not on brake works as required but stick cannot be moved from N to R unless foot is OFF the brake ????? I don't understand this one!!
Questions:
1/ Can any one give some help to get my gearbox working again?
2/ Should I remove the 4 star headed bolts and try to remove the top of the unit from above its baseplate or will 1000s of bits fall out which I'll never be able to reassemble?
3/ Can the gear stick unit be dismantled any further in situ? If so how?
4/ How do I get the connector plug apart without damage? I can't feel any catches on the plug.
5/ Does the fact that the W/S rocker switch seems to have no metal conntacts under it matter? Did loose a part of this when I removed it at the sailing club?
All help gratefully received.
E Class Man
Last weekend packed up sailing dinghy sail in pouring rain and placed rolled up sail in my 320 cdi estate (W 2000 Reg - W210). Unknown to me at the time, and whilst packing up the rest of the boat stuff, rain water in the sail was steadily dripping onto centre console around gear stick.
Initially car wouldn't start and most warning lights were on.
On realising what had happened I mopped up water and removed trim and winter/summer (W/S) rocker switch to reveal a lot of water underneath switch and on top of the circuit board below.
After mopping up further, car started with fewer warning lights and I drove home with gear box in 2nd (limp home mode) where it has remained since.
After more drying out I tried to remove the whole assembley from the car to dry it properly by removing the the 3 allen headed bolts securing the base of the whole unit to the transmission tunnel. This unit appears to be attached by some linkage underneath. So I didn't force it, I just bolted it down again. There is a muiltipin plug connector on the front of the gear stick unit which may well have got wet but I can't remove the connector as it is too inaccessible and again I don't want to break it. Have left it for 24hrs with an electric fan heater running on the area to dry it out properly.
Engine now starts fine and no warning lights displayed or malfunction messages. However The park P display remains displayed irrespective of lever position and gear box is still only offers park, 2nd gear or reverse.
Also the solenoid lock which prevents movement from park when foot not on brake works as required but stick cannot be moved from N to R unless foot is OFF the brake ????? I don't understand this one!!
Questions:
1/ Can any one give some help to get my gearbox working again?
2/ Should I remove the 4 star headed bolts and try to remove the top of the unit from above its baseplate or will 1000s of bits fall out which I'll never be able to reassemble?
3/ Can the gear stick unit be dismantled any further in situ? If so how?
4/ How do I get the connector plug apart without damage? I can't feel any catches on the plug.
5/ Does the fact that the W/S rocker switch seems to have no metal conntacts under it matter? Did loose a part of this when I removed it at the sailing club?
All help gratefully received.
E Class Man
