PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - '99 Turbodiesel

jay_bob · #11 06-03-2016, 06:14 PM

The 98 and 99 with the Smart Key have a Bowden cable interlock between the key switch and the transmission. It does not connect to the shifter like the 124 system. It dives into the tunnel and goes into the transmission.

There is a solenoid on the shifter but that is to prevent you from going into R or P while at speed. It is called the R/P Lock Solenoid. The thing that prevents you from shifting out of park is buried on the transmission on a 98 or 99 210. In 2000 they went to the D+/- shifter instead of the PRND4321, the 2000 and up shifter has the emergency hole.

There is a Bowden cable between the brake pedal and the transmission to prevent you from coming out of park without your foot on the brake (the Audi 5000 interlock).

I think you are hosed, the best thing to do is let the tow operator use his bag of tricks to drag it up on the flat bed. At least not without major disassembly.

If you want to try forcing the switch to transmission Bowden then drop the lower trim under the drivers side, carefully turn the lock ring (Baum makes a tool that looks like the Rook in chess) or use a small screwdriver to rotate the ring. Drop out the key switch and unclip the Bowden cable. You should be able to pull on it to unlock the shifter.

I just went through all this when I redid the evaporator on my 210 so I just saw it all last week.