After all these years, my memory is a bit fuzzy on the details. I want to say that she did it on purpose because she didn't trust the pump-up parking brake, but I can't swear to it.

I understand what you're saying. All I can say is that it's the only time I've ever needed mechanical assist to free up the ignition-steering lock interface. I can only surmise that the front tire was jammed so firmly against the curb (while the steering was held at full lock) that the control arm and/or steering rack bushings deflected. The steering lock pin must have engaged the lock plate instantly at engine off, holding the steering wheel at full lock and the aforementioned bushings still deflected. I believe I couldn't manually turn the steering wheel to release the lock because there simply was no slack in the steering/suspension in the direction it needed to turn.

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1989 300 SEL that mostly works, but needs TLC

I hadn't even thought about that. If she jammed the steering rack and bushings while turning the wheel to the stop, this would have the same effect as jamming the tire into the curb. In either case, the load on the steering would prevent you from releasing the lock. I'mm surprised something doesn't give with all that strain on the system.

G-Benz & others: thanks..

This behavior just recently started and I am not taling about a 45 degrees incline, just a slight 1 or 2 degrees incline. I just think that something is just not right. I have gone back to some previous parking spots where the gear swift was smooth and now I hear some chunk noise when coming out of park.

BTW, is an MB selector lever and linkage adjustable?


In the case of an automatic, my driving habit is not to apply the park brake at each and every park except when parked at a noticeable incline. However for stick, the parl brake is apply every time.