My 99 C280 shifts fine up and down on its own, but I cannot manually move the gearshift from D to 4. Any ideas? Thanks.

Did you spill any fluid into the shifter module? It is usually the problem. When is the last time you change the ATF / service your transmission?

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Moving the shifter from D to 4 is all in the shifter. as suggested has the console area been "liquidfied"?

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My shifter was very difficult to move into and out of Park. I checked the linkage bushings under the car and they were toast. These are the little green bushings at either end of the linkage. Inexpensive and easy DIY. Check Fastlane to see what they look like.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

I bought the car used, I don't know if the console has been liquified. If it has how do I check or repair?

thanks

sorry, what is fastlane?

"Liquify" is slang for spilling some liquid, i.e coffee, down into the shift mechanism. You could try gently removing trim piece and see if there is any evidence of this.

FastLane is a parts seller and one of the sponsors of this site. Link is at the top of the page, just enter your car and take a look.

I changed my bushings recently and the fault was purely mechanical. The missing bushings causing a slight misalignment, making moving the shifter difficult.

If you just can't toggle the shifter to show 4th gear, then it sounds more like a problem with the shifter itself.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

I finally got the shift lever from D to 4 with a "smack", so I think you are correct about the bushings needing replacement. Thanks for your help.

Easy to check. Just get under there with a flashlight. The green bushings are a little softer than the stiff ones on the W124 chassis. One tip was to put them in boiling water to soften them up. I don't recall how difficult it was with my C280 but on my 300CE, I used the "short threaded bolt/washer/bushing/socket/washer/nut combo" to press the bushing in on the drop down tang from the shifter. After you remove the linkage, the bushing on the other end is done on the bench.

1991 300CE
2000 C280

Again, When you move the trans lever below D, the only thing that MOVES in inside the shifter. Not the shift linkage under the car!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I will check inside the shifter for the problem, thanks for the advise.

How about when the transmission will not stay in Drive. The shifter at times will not completely "click" into "D". At that point it seems like it never is in 1st from a dead stop.

If your tranny has the W/S rocker switch, then you have 1st gear start in S(ummer) mode and 2nd gear start in W(inter) mode. Are you saying the shift lever does not physically seat itself completely in the D slot? If this is the case I would check the linkage under the car. A missing bushing or remnant of a bushing will be obvious.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

Yes the car does have a W/S switch. We always leave it in S summer and winter unless there's snow on the ground. You are correct, at times the shifter does not seat correctly.

I'll take the car to were we have the oil changed and have them look for me. if they can't / won't do it. Under the car I go. Thanks for your help on this.

Let's hope that is all it is. The repair will only cost a couple of dollars and a little time. No special tools except maybe a longish screwdriver. A pair of long needle nose pliers may help too. As I remember the bushings in the W202 C280 were easier to handle than the super stiff bushings in my W124. Take a look at the green colored bushing at Fastlane so you know what to look for.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280