Shift lever locked in Park! HELP!!

Unbelivable!! I have a 2002 S430 with 52,000 miles. Last friday drove to work like any other day, when I came out 7 hours latter I got in the car put the key in the ignition, started the engine with my foot in the brake pedal and surprise! I could not get the shift lever in any gear since is now permanently locked in PARK. For the next two hours I tried everything that myself and the Mercedes dealer knew to do to get it out of PARK, and nothing. I had to call the tow truck and took it home, hoping to get it fix and avoid the $2000 bill from the dealer.
I would appreciate any ideas, comments or solution to this problem, since I have a car stuck in my driveway unable to even move it. Thank you in advance!!

just a sugestion from a car guy. although the s430 is one that i have never had a wrench in,
Things that i would try is
TO determine if the shifter lock mechanism is mechanical or electric. meaning is there a shaft in the collum that locks the shifter or some type of silinoid (celinoid) spell @#@# device that locks the shifter.
After this is determined the fix will be more clear to you .
It is my suggestion to anyone who wants to make their own repaires needs to spend the $$ and invest in a repair manual written specifically for that particular car, year and model. This will answer all of the questions you may encounter.

I prefer not to waste much $$$ on a chilton manual or other aftermarket books as they tend to leave out a lot of important details.
If you can determine how it locks, hit this post again maby i or someone els can be of more help.

Shannon

There are a few things I can think of off the top of my head. The lock-out switch may be faulty. Also, the electrical part of the ignition switches on the 140 cars do sometimes go bad, that's also a fairly cheap part. keep in mind it could also be a mechanical such as a shifter linkage came loose and has jammed itself. I'm sure there are more things to check that haven't came to mind yet, but those are good starting points.

I also have a S430 and my car is also stuck on Park. what was repaired on the car?

I have a 2003 S430, mine got stuck in park intermittantly, I know what the issue is (well what mine was)

The gear shift is electronic, and has a plastic lever that moves in order to allow gear change. It needed lubricating in mine, when I finished it was perfect!

All I did was remove the shift lever knob, then the shrowed (pull upwards) then the outer wooden shrowed (again pull upwards)

Under this there is a black plastic control plate, you need to remove this via undoing the screws (7 or so) then you can see a selection of metal plates. I then sprayed silicone oil (or WD40) in between the plates whick was enough to make the shift work eventually. Once the shift was able to be put into drive you can then see through a larger hole in the shift plates and I applied lubricating oil to the plastic switch that is black in colour.

Then put everything back. I need to point out that the shift lever is removed by pulling straight up, dont twist it otherwise you will make it loose and damage the plastic inside.

Basically the main fault on this model is the black plastic shift stop does not have enough grease on it and after some time it simply jams and needs lubricating.

Mercedes dealers wont do this, they will just replace the entire shift assembly whick will cost thousands!

If this does not work then it has either jammed totally, the mech has broken or the switch on the brake pedel has gone. If this is the case the sorry I have not attempted this repair (yet)

Good luck all.:runaround: