cant shift

[ronnie]

I borrowed a friends mercedes 2001 s 500 . The car starts fine, but while applying the brake I cant not move the shifter in to any gear (automatic transmission) any advise would be appreciated

[Larry Delor]

Are you by chance, parked on an incline?

[ronnie]

no incline and I tried rocking the car

[ILUVMILS]

It sounds like either the brake light switch is faulty (cheap and quick), or the shifter ($$$) is bad. The good news is that there's a simple and quick way to figure out which part is the problem. Get in the car and close the doors and windows, so it's completely quiet. With the ignition switch on, step on the brake pedal and listen for a "click" from the locking solenoid in the shifter. You can also feel the solenoid activating by placing your hand over the shift gate. If the solenoid can be heard or felt when applying the brake, it means there's a mechanical fault in the shifter. If the solenoid doesn't work, it ususally indicates a bad brake light switch.

If it turns out to be a bad shifter, you don't have many options. Since there's no emergency release on the shifter, the only way to get it out of Park is to disconnect the shift linkage. I've had some success though, "tapping" the top of the shift lever while pulling back on it. Sometimes the solenoid will move just enough to allow the shifter to move out of Park. I hope it's the switch though. At least it can be fixed on the spot.

[zcc]

I would exclude bad. Pull/reset codes.

[ILUVMILS]

Originally Posted by zcc

I would exclude bad. Pull/reset codes.

Checking/clearing codes won't help. If the brake light switch is the culprit it's a current fault, which won't clear. If it's a mechanical fault in the shifter, it won't throw any codes.

[zcc]

Originally Posted by ILUVMILS

Checking/clearing codes won't help. If the brake light switch is the culprit it's a current fault, which won't clear. If it's a mechanical fault in the shifter, it won't throw any codes.

Thank you Mr. ILUVMILS, sorry I thought that resetting codes will help as on W140. Ok I'm learning

[Oracle12345]

Vacuum leak? check for vacuum leaks then look at the more complex stuff.
And btw clearing the codes and not fixing the problem wont fix your problem....
it will only come back.
If you cant find any vacuum leaks check out the electronics of the tranny. If the electrics of the tranny check out then its something internal which means it gonna cost you some $$$

If you send me your vin # and email addy I can send you some documents.

[ILUVMILS]

Originally Posted by Oracle12345

Vacuum leak? check for vacuum leaks then look at the more complex stuff.

The 220 S-Class doesn't use vacuum to dis-engage the Park-Lock.