Lately my reverse light has been kinda iffy on me, i mean it still works but i would have to put it in the sweet spot or have to move it up and down btw P and N to get it to go on. I think that maybe there is a loose piece or something. Anybody know how to fix this or what i can do to get it to work properly again. This is on a w202, 97 if that matters.

Thanks a million

HAPPY NEW YEARS

OK, that would be the 722.6 transmission, and I believe what you have there for the reverse light switch is a part in the shifter itself called the "Range Recognition Switch". There is no adjustment to it that I am aware of, probably wearing out. It would need to be replaced, but at least you can buy it as a replacement part, unlike the 2000 and newer shifter, where you buy the whole thing.
It's not that bad of a job to remove the shifter, the part itself is a bit tricky to replace though, kind of a puzzle to disassemble and reassemble.

Gilly

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thanks alot, do you have a part number to that piece??? on a scale of 1 to 10 what would it be?? I am pretty handy able to remove the whole suspension, would i be able to tackle this job?

Thanks again.

I double-checked my info, it does seem that the range recognition switch would be the most likely cause. It sends a voltage-coded signal to the ETC (transmission control module) which in turn supplies the voltage for the reverse lights. Since it's voltage-coded, it would be especially important that the contact for the switch is clean; you haven't spilled anything into the shifter, have ya?

I'd break down the difficulty into removing the shifter from the car as maybe a 3, and replacing the range switch as around a 7 to 9 or so, depending on your patience. Drops considerably if you can get someone to get the instructions to you from MB (WIS)

Gilly

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Wow thanks for the help, Thsi all happened after my car came for the body shop so maybe the dust got in there and i have spilt some things accidently down.

If that switch gets too bad, it can start causing lots of other problems. Things like the transmission not wanting to shift correctly.
Maybe you could try going to a shop with an air compressor and blowing compressed air around the small gaps in the top of the shifter and see if that helps. I wouldn't try anything but compressed air, any type of cleaning fluid may just make it worse.

I forgot to mention before that I don't know the part number. You can try ordering it from Fastlane, I'm sure Phil can look it up.

Gilly

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