w215 Gear Selector

[Capp]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone's had this fault before on a W215 or W220.
Intermittently the gear selector display does not show on the dash (next to the clock), it usually shows PRND with W or S.

Also the gear selector will sometimes not pass through neutral from drive so the engine has to be turned off first, then it ok to move to reverse or park.

When this happens the gears are either very harsh or it sticks in one gear and will not change.

Usually turning the engine off and back on cures the problem for a short while.

I (foolishly) bought a gear stick selector module from ebay which was the latest updated part number, however after fitting, it would not move out of park, so I put the old unit back in to keep the car mobile.

A local independent with a STAR could not reprogram the used gear stick selector module, so old unit refitted once again.

A new unit is £600 plus about £800 fitting charge. does anyone have first hand experience of this issue.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[mercedescl500]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone's had this fault before on a W215 or W220.
Intermittently the gear selector display does not show on the dash (next to the clock), it usually shows PRND with W or S.

Also the gear selector will sometimes not pass through neutral from drive so the engine has to be turned off first, then it ok to move to reverse or park.

When this happens the gears are either very harsh or it sticks in one gear and will not change.

Usually turning the engine off and back on cures the problem for a short while.

I (foolishly) bought a gear stick selector module from ebay which was the latest updated part number, however after fitting, it would not move out of park, so I put the old unit back in to keep the car mobile.

A local independent with a STAR could not reprogram the used gear stick selector module, so old unit refitted once again.

A new unit is £600 plus about £800 fitting charge. does anyone have first hand experience of this issue.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Hi. Did you read the gearbox error codes? If so, what were they.

Also are you sure it's not the plastic clip inside the selector module causing the "sticking" between gears. It's known to break and cause this problem.

As for not displaying gears in the dash, I would go back to the error codes to get a proper indication of a likely cause.

 

[Capp]

Lots of faults which were cleared, probably years since it was on a STAR so every fault in the book was there.
The main code was P0705 which is relating to PRND recognition.

 

[mercedescl500]

Lots of faults which were cleared, probably years since it was on a STAR so every fault in the book was there.
The main code was P0705 which is relating to PRND recognition.

Capp, can you get under the car ? Can you check the gearbox pilot bushing (inside the electrical connector, yellow in color). I think you might have oil contamination. If its got oil inside you need to clean it out and update the connector for the updated part. Also if this fails, you could check the conductor plate in the gearbox, accessible via sump.

Regards.

And have you tested the transmission module via STAR or comparable diagnostic computer to check its functioning properly. Look for possible moisture/water Ingress.

 

[lexman8]

A local independent with a STAR could not reprogram the used gear stick selector module, so old unit refitted once again.

I'm pretty sure a second-hand module cannot be re-coded as it's a 'secure' part.

It would need a new part coded to the car by Mercedes.

 

[Capp]

I have change the pilot bush (electrical connector) at the gearbox, it was bone dry but changed it anyway as I had bought the part.

Checked the transmission module under the bonnet but this too seems to be dry.

It has been on STAR, nothing conclusive, so many faults from years ago but the code P0705 which is relating to PRND recognition was one, this also appeared when previously tested by a basic code reader.

I'm beginning to think the gear stick module can only be coded from new, but there are lots of them on ebay for sale so what's happening with them, surely they can't all be useless sales?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Yes, they can only be coded from new, a second hand one will only give 30 or so starts before it doesn't allow the car to be started anymore.

As Lexman, it is a theft relevant part, as the car has no steering lock.

I would hazard a guess that you have "fault in can communication with ESM" logged under star. It's very likely that your selector module electronics are dying (especially if all the plugs etc are in good condition)

 

[carltonfc]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone's had this fault before on a W215 or W220.
Intermittently the gear selector display does not show on the dash (next to the clock), it usually shows PRND with W or S.

Also the gear selector will sometimes not pass through neutral from drive so the engine has to be turned off first, then it ok to move to reverse or park.

When this happens the gears are either very harsh or it sticks in one gear and will not change.

Usually turning the engine off and back on cures the problem for a short while.

I (foolishly) bought a gear stick selector module from ebay which was the latest updated part number, however after fitting, it would not move out of park, so I put the old unit back in to keep the car mobile.

A local independent with a STAR could not reprogram the used gear stick selector module, so old unit refitted once again.

A new unit is £600 plus about £800 fitting charge. does anyone have first hand experience of this issue.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Hi

I had the GSM fail on my 215 CL500, it started sticking in P intermittently, then became harder and harder to move it out of P...eventually stuck firm on my drive luckily...I managed to release it by putting a couple of car mags on top of the gear knob and hitting it a couple of times with a hammer..it release and allowed me to get it into D....

Had to leave the car on my drive with the key in it, and still in D, luckily it's a safe place with no passing people or traffic.

I had the GSM replaced at HSC for about £750 if my memory is correct!

Cheers

 

[alexanderfoti]

There are 2 main failure modes.

1. Stuck in P , a plastic lever breaks and the solenoid cant release the lever so that it can be moved to P. In this instance the electronics are normally fine, and its a mechanical fault. Many choose to remove the lever all together, which allows free movement of the lever without the key in the ignition or the brake depressed.

2. Comms failure with the ESM, the shifter shows nonsensical information on the dash, or nothing at all. In this instance the car cannot talk to the ESM and therefore the gearbox doesn't know what gear is selected. Shifts to and from D are jerky as the box is only being told by the physical selector lever, and this is a failback mode.

 

[Capp]

Thanks alexanderfoti,

I believe I have the second fault: does this mean the only solution is a new Gear Stick Selector Module from MB or is there another solution.

I find it hard to believe that all these units for sale are in effect useless as they cannot be coded to another vehicle.

Has anyone ever actually fitted this part either new from MB or from another vehicle.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Yes it is.

You can try Ac tronics, or a electronics repair firm, to see if they can identify the fault and repair it, but I have not heard that the module is normally repairable.

It is a theft relevant part. Its like saying "I have bought a key barrel from another car and I would like to have it reworked so it works with my existing keys".

220/215/230's do not have a steering lock, so use the car being locked in park as a immobilizing method.

There have been a couple of people on the other side who have fitted a second hand shifter module, only to find that the car start after 30 attempts.

 

[Capp]

Thanks alexanderfoti,

I'll try and find an electronics repair specialist otherwise it the MB dealer and a big bill.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Best of luck. They are around £400 from the dealers, last time I checked. Not too bad, but expensive car, expensive parts!

 

[Capp]

I've been quoted £500 plus VAT plus fitting.

The actual fitting is not to bad, it's the labour charge getting the centre consul out.

Either way it's going to cost, but the cars useless without it.

 

[mercedescl500]

I've been quoted £500 plus VAT plus fitting.

The actual fitting is not to bad, it's the labour charge getting the centre consul out.

Either way it's going to cost, but the cars useless without it.

Just a thought but would STAR Diagnostic with "Developer" mode not be able to recode the control unit ? I'm sure that there are some people who have Developer mode activated on their STAR system. Might be worth a try.

Developer Mode information can be found here :

http://www.cardiagnostics.be/-now/DAS-WIS_bestanden/DAS Developer Mode User Guide.htm