Help 1997 c280 stuck in park

[ykobayashi]

Hi,

I cannot get my shifter out of park. Here is some background.

My key got jammed in the ignition. There was no way I could turn it and I ended up having to remove the lower kick panel and grind out the steering lock by grinding down the little pin with a dremel and wiggling the lock out. It was a PITA job but it was pretty doable.

I replaced the lock mechanism and key tumbler and the car starts fine now with the old key. But now I cannot get it out of park. It is jammed with some kind of safety interlock I believe.

When I was down removing the mechanical cable from the steering lock (presumably the function is to prevent shifting) I pressed it a couple of times and tried to work the shifter. My intent was to get the car into neutral so I could move it around in my garage to get more room to work. I may have messed something up in the shifter mechanism while doing this. I didn’t force anything but I noticed when I pressed the plunger in the ignition side of the shifter cable the shifter still didn’t move. Perhaps on this car the brake needs to be pressed too to get the lever to release. Anyhow I’m mentioning this because maybe that mucked up the interlock operation.

When I installed the lock I made sure I installed the little mechanical cable. It just screwed in and seemed pretty foolproof. I checked the mechanism on my dead lock and it is just a cam that pushes the plunger when the key is turned. I don’t think it is possible to install it incorrectly.

I’m thinking I mucked up something with the cable and shifter mechanism. I believe the entire safety system (brake + keyway cable) is completely mechanical on this car. I may be wrong though and I intend to tear down my shifter control tomorrow to see how it works.

My next step tomorrow is to take the shift console apart and see what those cables do down there (assuming they are going to a mechanical interlock at the shift lever).

If you guys have any knowledge of this system I’d appreciate a tip. I’m pretty flustered after spending the better part of two days swapping the lock and still having the car stuck in the garage.

Thanks.