R230 SL55 Stuck in Park

[shagger11]

The brake lamp switch is possible, but so is the gear shift where this fault happens, its an expensive lump at £650, has the gear shift been getting harder or stiff to move on the odd occasion.

This is happening to me mal. What is it?

 

[titch]

Brake lamp switch. Best to try it. £12 part from MB. 5mins to fit... There is a link to how it's done on YouTube earlier in this thread. Hope it works! It did for me.

 

[television]

This is happening to me mal. What is it?

Is yours getting hard to get out of P.

 

[Viscount]

Is yours getting hard to get out of P.

I'm stuck in P (2003 R230 SL350). Systems battery was low (7V) charging at the moment. Even with engine running providing 14.2V on system battery, still stuck in P. The brake light switch referred to in this post - to check it, is it not just a matter of if the brake lights come on (which they do), then the switch is OK?

 

[Arudge]

I'm stuck in P (2003 R230 SL350). Systems battery was low (7V) charging at the moment. Even with engine running providing 14.2V on system battery, still stuck in P. The brake light switch referred to in this post - to check it, is it not just a matter of if the brake lights come on (which they do), then the switch is OK?

I've had this on my year 2000 CLK. Low voltage will lock it in park.

Look at your gearstick, immediately under D there's a secret window. Simply push a pencil through the window and that should unlock the transmission.

 

[Arudge]

 

[Arudge]

The brake light switch is double pole and fuel function. One pole operates the brake lights and the other supply voltage to the transmission. The problem is the contacts burn out and you lose the supply to the transmission, or it becomes unreliable. It's worth changing the brake light switch anyway, they fail, there cheap and there fitted in seconds.

 

[Arudge]

Dual function, not fuel function.

 

[Viscount]

Dual function, not fuel function.

Thanks; that makes total sense. I'll get on it tomorrow.

 

[alexanderfoti]

View attachment 40109

No such thing on an R230 as they have no steering lock, so use the gearbox lock as a security mechanism.

 

[Arudge]

No such thing on an R230 as they have no steering lock, so use the gearbox lock as a security mechanism.

I stand corrected.

 

[Viscount]

It was the brake light switch - all sorted, thanks for the replies.

 

[Arudge]

Thanks for letting us know. Always appreciated.

 

[Fitboyslim]

No such thing on an R230 as they have no steering lock, so use the gearbox lock as a security mechanism.

Hi guys, I am a new member.
I have 2003 SL 55 which I’ve had for 11 years. I have been having problems with the gear lever stuck in park. After trawling the members site I found the advice on the brake light switch and changed it but unfortunately this did not work. I only do on average just over 4000 miles a year and I have a continuing problem keeping the battery charged, I am using it even less at the moment because of the gearstick proble, does that have anything to do with it?
Can I remove the plastic locking plate that is referred to in one of the threads myself or is it a garage job?
I don’t mind not having the “lock in park” facility

 

[alexanderfoti]

Hi guys, I am a new member.
I have 2003 SL 55 which I’ve had for 11 years. I have been having problems with the gear lever stuck in park. After trawling the members site I found the advice on the brake light switch and changed it but unfortunately this did not work. I only do on average just over 4000 miles a year and I have a continuing problem keeping the battery charged, I am using it even less at the moment because of the gearstick proble, does that have anything to do with it?
Can I remove the plastic locking plate that is referred to in one of the threads myself or is it a garage job?
I don’t mind not having the “lock in park” facility

They are probably un related.

It is doable, but its much easier to remove the lever if your gear stick is not stuck in park.

 

[John Laidlaw]

As Alex says...on the other thing you should invest in a trickle charger like a Ctek...

 

[Fitboyslim]

Thanks guys,
I’m pretty confident I can get it out of park after reading your posts, but once I do that, do I need to get underneath the vehicle to take out the assumed damaged plastic part, or can I do it from the top, inside the car?
I will be buying the trickle charger today...

 

[alexanderfoti]

Thanks guys,
I’m pretty confident I can get it out of park after reading your posts, but once I do that, do I need to get underneath the vehicle to take out the assumed damaged plastic part, or can I do it from the top, inside the car?
I will be buying the trickle charger today...

Mostly done from inside, but you will need to remove the shift assembly from the car to dismantle it, and it requires that you disconnect the lever that goes into the box. Easier to pop it off from underneath.

 

[star]

You need to remove gearshift complete from above but disconnect under car, then strip and replace/remove lock lever.

 

[Fitboyslim]

Thanks again guys, I am on it......