Retrofit Brake pedal shift interlock on 1987 w124??

[1stbenznc]

Can the later 1990+ "brake pedal shift interlock" cable/system be retofitted to the earlier cars easily? What is involved?

If there is a cable from the brake pedal to the shifter, do I need that specific brake pedal and shifter from the later model car, where it connects?

I understand there is also a cable from the ignition to the shifter, but really don't want/need that one.

Anyone done this or know how??

[Jeremy5848]

Why would you want to?

[1stbenznc]

I have a 2 , 4 and 6 year old! While my wife is awesome watching the kids, she will not drive the car without it. It's just too easy to bump it out of gear - Even I have done it.

We're so used to it in our past cars, that it's second nature to use the brake pedal anyway.

.....and I need to get the e-brake working. One or both of the back cables are seized.

[vstech]

sounds like you want something off my parts cars!

[1stbenznc]

So what's involved to do it John? Definately will need some parts, just not sure exactly which ones !??!

[Skippy]

Originally Posted by 1stbenznc

I have a 2 , 4 and 6 year old! While my wife is awesome watching the kids, she will not drive the car without it. It's just too easy to bump it out of gear - Even I have done it.

We're so used to it in our past cars, that it's second nature to use the brake pedal anyway.

.....and I need to get the e-brake working. One or both of the back cables are seized.

Oh, so there is a reason newer cars have that. I remember when my parents bought a '00 Mercury Grand Marquis, they parked it in the backyard then couldn't get it out of park. After a call to the dealer, they felt pretty dumb, but it was the first car new enough to have that feature.

My junk doesn't even have a clutch interlock, and I like it that way.

[compu_85]

There's something different in the ignition switch too, you can't turn the key all the way to off with it not in P (you can turn it 99% there, but not enough to remove the key). It is a purely mechanical system.

I have yet to find a reference to it in the FSM I hope it never needs adjustment on my car!

-J

[compu_85]

Ok I just looked through the W126 and W124 manuals and found squat. But I also didn't find anything talking about the ignition switch. Where does that info live?

-J

[MBeige]

It could be integral to the neutral safety switch (maybe), with a relay coming from the brake pedal switch going to this device. Just a guess.

Both our cars do not have this and I enjoy it immensely because of it. Slip it out of park and into gear as you head off.

Curious how you would perform this conversion though!

[aaa]

What about the parking brake?

[compu_85]

There are no electrical parts. There is a cable going to the shifter, cable going to the brake pedal, and there must be another one going to the ignition switch.

I know there are no electrical parts because the interlock works the same with the battery disconnected.

On my car at least you barley have to touch the brake to shift from P. That plus the instant reaction of the mechanical system makes it almost totally transparent. (Unlike 90s VWs which do use an electrical system, which has a bit of a delay in it).

-J

[vstech]

I've not gotten that deep into my parts cars as of yet, but I think you would need the ignition switch, and cable the pedal cable and the shifter. also the wood surround is different, and the buttons for the windows etc do not fit in the wood surround, so you'd need to either modify the wood to fit the stock buttons, or retrofit the button unit into the older car.

[1stbenznc]

I will hit the local junkyard and take a look when it warms a bit later this week. He has one pretty stripped down and the shifter/brake pedal is in place. I'm thinking the brake peal just moves the cable a bit to release some type of pin/lever on the shifter itself. I will avoid the ignition cable modification if possible.

I don't think there should be any mods to the console itself, including the wood, window switches, etc....just the shifter itself; which I believe is the same size to bolt in

I will Post my findings.....

[MBeige]

Originally Posted by compu_85

There are no electrical parts. There is a cable going to the shifter, cable going to the brake pedal, and there must be another one going to the ignition switch.

I know there are no electrical parts because the interlock works the same with the battery disconnected.

On my car at least you barley have to touch the brake to shift from P. That plus the instant reaction of the mechanical system makes it almost totally transparent. (Unlike 90s VWs which do use an electrical system, which has a bit of a delay in it).

-J

The wrecked chassis of my sister's 93 190E required a battery to get the shifter from P to N so we could push it to the tow truck on its last day. They could not get it out of P without the battery.

[compu_85]

Hm, the W126 must be different then