Automatic gearbox stuck on "P"
 

Good morning,

The gear box of my 320CDI, diesel, W210, from 2000, from time to time gets stuck on "P".

I made a search on old posts but could not find a good one where it was explained how to solve the problem I woiuld likje to make some preventive action to be blocked with the car in the middle of nowere.

Can some body help.

In advance many thanks

To start with the USA version shifters have a manual release.

The brake light switch sends signal to shifter (ESM) to allow it to release.
Do the brake lamps work correctly?

Thanks you M.B.Doc for this quick reply.

Do I understand correctly that the signal is coming from the brake light in the tail? or do you mean the stop switch on the break pedal?

Is there any electric device on the lever? Is it easily accessible?

Have you any description of the manual release? I assume that the european cars have the same device?

Thanks and regards

There is a small square black plastic "window" just behind the shift lever that you can push open & see where to depress & move the shifter from park.

Of course the shifter is a computer...the brake lamp signal is processed by the ESP computer & sent thru the CAN network line to the ESM (shifter).