Any broken column-shift automatic gear indicators out there?

[Shortsguy1]

For the last 20 years, the column-shift automatic transmission gear indicator on my w115 did not work correctly. It would work only for gears N, D, S, and L, but would not ever go into R or P. To be clear, the car would, but the indicator always halted at N as you moved the gear shifter towards Park.

It turns out that the cable had frayed inside the indicator, and those frayed bits would catch at the exact same place for years of usage. As they get caught up, they keep the spring from being able to pull the indicator all the way back to N or P.

I bought a used gear indicator on ebay and it is starting to fray as well (though works better than my old one).

Has anyone else seen this, or do I just have bad luck?

[vandor]

I have not seen this. Most of them are completely broken :-)

Well, mine is, and many others I have seen. I took mine out and thought about repairing using fishing line to replace the cable, but have not done it yet.