R230 SL55 stuck in park, anyway to get it going?

[Goliath]

no, once the internal plastic piece that breaks, is removed, it stops the car locking the lever into park in the first place.

I'm not sure I understand. I thought by default the level was 'locked' in place and the plastic piece unlocks it, so without the plastic piece surely it would remain stuck in park permanently?

 

[television]

Well, to say I am utterly fed up with this car would be a massive understatement!

I have got as far as in this photo, which has been a massive struggle, I have never come across a worse designed interior! Goodness only knows how it was put together in the factory.

Anyway, does anyone know if it is possible to remove the silver fascia or do I need to remove the whole dashboard? If the whole dashboard needs to come out then I will have to admit defeat and pay thousands to get a specialist to replace the whole unit which seems a complete waste for a £20 part.

EDIT: it would help if I included the photo!


Sorry for being grumpy, words just cannot convey how annoyed I am with this car! At least I have others I can use to get around I suppose!

It only takes 5 mins to remove the dash

Lower both seats and lever off the side panels from the rear
Remove ashtray
There are 3 torx screws inset slightly each side
Put a blunt knife it the top and lever out both corners
lift the rear end and its off and just lays to passenger side

 

[Craiglxviii]

I'm not sure I understand. I thought by default the level was 'locked' in place and the plastic piece unlocks it, so without the plastic piece surely it would remain stuck in park permanently?

Other way around, the plastic part is the physical lock for the lever that depressing the brake pedal unlocks.

 

[Goliath]

It only takes 5 mins to remove the dash

Lower both seats and lever off the side panels from the rear
Remove ashtray
There are 3 torx screws inset slightly each side
Put a blunt knife it the top and lever out both corners
lift the rear end and its off and just lays to passenger side

You make it sound so easy!!
I have removed the side panels and the torx screws (there were 5 each side on mine) but the silver panel it absolutely solid still.

I will try prising the top with a knife as you suggest but the I can't get the rear edge to budge at all!

 

[Goliath]

Other way around, the plastic part is the physical lock for the lever that depressing the brake pedal unlocks.

Oh ok, i thought the plastic lever pushed a metal rod to lock the gear stick in place.

I managed to get mine out of park by tapping it as suggested but it then got stuck in park again which surely it wouldnt if the plastic part is broken and no longer functioning?

 

[DREAMER NO2]

Here is the broken plastic clip and the brass rod (the rod has a circlip on the end which I unintentionally popped off, luckily I didnt lose it though!)

Who in he right mind would fit flimsy item like this to a class car ,only Mercedes would.

 

[television]

You should not remove the screws that sit out a bit, and where you can see the part it is holding,it is the 3 shorter screws each side, the one furthest back are quite inset. It will be stuck, as they stick to the side, lever up the rear end first.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Who in he right mind would fit flimsy item like this to a class car ,only Mercedes would.

Every automaker. The material of which parts are made are defined by 2 things: the performance (derived from MB's own engineering standards) they have to achieve, and the cost point they have to achieve. MB charge significantly more than most for their cars so they can afford individual parts to cost more, but that particular part is likely standard over all auto transmission cars built between say, '00 and '07 (or even longer). It will have exceeded its 36 Month In Service warranty rate to stay in build on more modern cars, the tooling will have been paid back long ago so it's an exceedingly cheap part to use.

All the car makers do the same thing.

 

[Goliath]

Im out at the car at rhe moment and I have managed to unclip the top of the silver panel, just above the cd slot. But I cannot get the rest of ot to budge at all. I have used enough force to bend one of my screwdrivers so I am convincer there must be some more bolts holding it in place. Any ideas?!?

 

[television]

Just those 3 screws and nothing more, I had mine out last week, I have had loads apart, once again the rear ones are inset.

 

[television]

From memory the correct screws are 25mm long the wrong ones are about 30mm

 

[Goliath]

Thanks malc, it was the 2 rear screws i had missed as they are inset like you say!

The next problem is how to remove the silver panel with the gear lever in the park position? I have tried so many times to tap the gear stick with a hammer but it will not budge out of park. I don't want to hit any harder as the top of the gearstick is starting to deform.

 

[star]

Don't hit the gear stick, tap the body of the mech, where the rubber plate is.

 

[Goliath]

Brute force and ignorance is the answer apparently, I just put the gearknob back on so I had a decent grip and used all my strength to sharply yank it backwards. It took about 10 attampts but then it moved back into drive.

 

[television]

Shame you are so far away Garath, pleased all out now.

 

[Goliath]

Shame you are so far away Garath, pleased all out now.

It's George

Yes unfortunately Cirencester seems to be the arse end of nowhere when it comes to cars! Theres an odd noise coming from our Austin 7 engine and again, no one local who knows the cars to come and have a listen!

Ah well, i've unbolted the 3 allen head bolts holding the gear lever assembly in place, now I just have to work out how to disconnect the gear rods from inside the car as it's too wet and muddy for me to get under the car today!

 

[television]

It's George

Yes unfortunately Cirencester seems to be the arse end of nowhere when it comes to cars! Theres an odd noise coming from our Austin 7 engine and again, no one local who knows the cars to come and have a listen!

Ah well, i've unbolted the 3 allen head bolts holding the gear lever assembly in place, now I just have to work out how to disconnect the gear rods from inside the car as it's too wet and muddy for me to get under the car today!

So sorry George its an age thing I have the same problem where I live

I might go to the meet coming up.

 

[Goliath]

Progress!

I managed to get the gear lever assembly box thing out after much struggling, it is a nightmare trying to disconnect the gear rod from inside the car, but it can be done. I tied an old shoelace round the gear rod so I can pull it up when I need it again.

Now to try and dismantle the box!

 

[television]

Pleased that you have got there George, what is the next move.

 

[Goliath]

Well I have removed the cover from the box and have also removed the broken plastic part. As I thought though the gears do not function properly with the plastic part removed, granted it does not get stuck in park, but it does get stuck in neutral so I will need to measure my broken plastic part and order the corresponding metal replacement.

I can see the lever that locks the gear stick in park (and now neutral), so I could potentially remove that but I am not sure it that will cause any other problems? It is hard to photograph but it is the lever in this picture with the circlip holding it on: