Hi,
Car is 1995 S500. We just removed the old transmission due to the Reverse not engaging, and are in the process of replacing it with a rebuilt transmission purchased from Sun Valley Mercedes Dismantlers. However, once the transmission was replaced and we checked the Gear Shifter, the Shifter would not go into Park. It's like hitting a wall. Pulled the Shifter up and looked into the area but can't see anything obvious that may be causing this problem. Has anyone experienced this before, or does anybody have any idea what it could be? I've searched through the blogs and could only find info on Shifter not going out of Park. I don't know if that is similar, but all the other gears appear to engage ok. Thank you for your speedy replies....we're in the process of working on it now and if none of you have any suggestions it will have to be towed to a mercede$ repair $hop.
Thank you!
Barbara

Barbara,

I'd check a few things. Does the tranny shift ok out of the car? Have you tried adjusting the linkages? Is it possible the something didn't go back together correctly? You could also try putting some putty on the ends of the linkage to see if they are physically hitting something (the putty will indent).

Good luck,
Todd

Thanks for responding, I was beginning to think I was on my own.
Park at the transmission WILL work when NOT linked to linkage. However the gear shift lever only goes as far up as Reverse whether linked or not. It's like there's something blocking it from going into Park. We removed the trim around the lever looked down into that area but can't see anything that looks amiss. I can't find anything relating to this issue. The closest issue is the "stuck in Park" but it's still not the same. I was wondering if it could be related to:
1. The brake control
2. The thingy that makes park lock, perhaps somehow it missed it's place and locked it out instead of in????
3. The theft device
4. Computer issue
5. Broken something????

We can start the car so I guess it's drivable, hopefully at least, to get to a $hop.
I was hoping we could figure this thing out ourselves. We have a Mitchell shop disk, but it doesn't seem to have information relating to this.
So, that's it......any more ideas, they are very much appreciated!

By the way Todd, I wanted to say I liked the putty idea...very clever! But it's not the linkage. In fact, I don't think it's the "transmission" at all, but rather the gear shift lever and whatever is connected to it, besides the transmission. This is definitely a curious problem. When we get this figured out I will definitely add it to this site, since there's nothing else like it so far. If this odd occurrence ever happens again, hopefully the next guy will have it a little bit easier.
Thanks again,
Barbara

The lockout should keep it from shifting out of park, not back in. Can you shift the selector into park with the tranny out? If not, then you know where the problem is. As far as a fix, I don't have any other ideas. I've done trannys in W124s (95) and a
W126(83)and didn't have a similar issue. Hopefully someone who's seen something simlar will pipe in.

Todd