Q: Doesn't shift park reverse

asked by on August 02, 2016

My CLK350 convertible won't go into park or reverse. So I have to turn it off the car and restart it to put it into reverse. It doesn't happen all of the time but often. My parking sensors don't light up when I stop. Maybe there is a speed sensor that activates the parking sensors below a certain speed. My Anti Lock Braking System lights don't even come on and everything else works fine. Do you know what could be causing this problem and how I can fix it? Thank you.

Hello there, thanks for writing in about your 2005 Mercedes CLK350. This is not an uncommon fault. The most likely cause would be the neutral safety switch, transmission linkage, transmission range switch, or low transmission fluid level. Since there are a variety of issues that could cause this, I would have a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your shifting issue and perform the repairs needed to get your car safely back on the road.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Water in oil.
Water in the oil usually mean you have a blown head gasket. (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-pump-cover-gasket-replacement) This happens normally when the engine overheats and warps the head causing the water to leak into the oil passages of the head where the gasket meets...
My car is making a grinding noise
Hello. It sounds like you either have a speed sensor that is not reading correctly or you may have a transmission or transfer case issue. If this is an all-wheel drive model, then it is more than likely the transfer...
brake sinking but still work.
Hello there, a few different faults can cause the vehicle to have poor brake performance like this. The most common causes would be the brake booster (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-hydraulic-brake-booster), brake master cylinder (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-brake-master-cylinder), or a brake fluid leak. When a truck has...
How would I open my car hood when I foget the keys and the car is totally locked
You cannot open the hood as easily as opening the door using a locksmith. If the cable broke and you need to get in, then a mechanic would have to raise the vehicle and get to the latch for you....
Radiator blew
This can happen for a number of reasons, however, the smoking and liquid leaking is a sign that your car has overheated. This can happen when the thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement) is not working properly or the coolant fans are not coming...
My car's steering rack makes a noise when going straight or left.
The steering rack can be damaged by stones or other debris being thrown up from the roadway. The rubber boot also can tear from aging and constant compress/extend motions as well during turns. If your steering rack makes noises while...
My car has low battery voltage - 2015 Toyota RAV4
Hello. From that test, I can determine that the charging system, as in the alternator, is fine. The voltage of the battery itself is very low, however. The starting volts are dropping way below the minimum, which means that the...
My Electric water pump on my 2014 320i BMW runs constantly after shutdown. Drains the battery dead after about five hours. What
The electric water pump circuit uses both a temperature sensor and a relay to control it's function. The temperature sensor tells the water pump there is a demand for it to circulate coolant based on engine temperature. The relay acts...
F150 starting system fault
You may have open recalls for the shift select transmission range sensor that needs to be done. This sensor will cause the fault and will also cause other issues like no reverse lights or showing correct gear selected. It can...

Related articles

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Clutch Slave Cylinder
If your manual car has abnormal pedal feel, low or contaminated brake fluid, or any visible leaks, you may need to replace the clutch slave cylinder.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Shift Interlock Solenoid
The shift interlock solenoid needs to be replaced if the vehicle cannot shift out of park and the battery is not dead.
How to Get Mercedes-Benz Dealership Certified
Mercedes Benz dealerships offer automotive technician jobs to those certified through Mercedes-Benz's Automotive Systems Technical & ELITE programs.