Gear stick stuck on P position (on W124)

[Me22]

Car = W124, Automatic, 1991, 3L, Petrol engine.
I haven't used the car for 2 years. I realised now that I left the automatic gear lever on P position. I pressed the break pedal and tried to move it to Neutral, but it will not move. I will charge the battery and try again, but I don't think this will help.
Any suggestions?

 

[Blobcat]

Get the battery into a good condition >12.4 volts and see what happens - there shouldn't be any issue with leaving it in "P" for an extended period of time - my 911 was sat in park for 2 years without issue (it was on a battery conditioner and started first turn of the key)

 

[rayhennig]

Car = W124, Automatic, 1991, 3L, Petrol engine.
I haven't used the car for 2 years. I realised now that I left the automatic gear lever on P position. I pressed the break pedal and tried to move it to Neutral, but it will not move. I will charge the battery and try again, but I don't think this will help.
Any suggestions?

Foot on pedal, key in "on" position and it should go into R, D etc. If not, start investigating the cables from from the gear stick to the brake pedal and ignition switch. Taking the gear level assembly off is not a daunting task.

It's purely mechanical so battery/voltage issues should be irrelevant.

RayH

 

[EmilysDad]

Cars generally need the brake pedal pressing to allow them to come out of PARK as a safety measure. There is usually a solenoid around the gear selector that energises to allow the selector lever to move. Is there not a manual lever under the gaiter somewhere? On the last car I had with a transmission tunnel mounted mechanical selector, the brake pedal switch energised the solenoid & was normally the cause of the fault.

 

[rayhennig]

the brake pedal switch energised the solenoid

No solenoids. It's a cable from the brake pedal to a mechanical lock under the lever. All mechanical.

Oddly, my lever will move out of Park with just the ignition in the "on" position. Why? Because the brake pedal seems not to rise sufficiently to trigger the lock. The cable and lever mechanism are fine. It is as if there should be something on the little bracket on the brake pedal assembly that would push the cable sufficiently to lock the lever. I can see the problem but access is difficult and I cannot find a solution.

Oh well.

RayH