Are you having a hard time changing gears in your Mercedes? If yes, then you have to inspect the gear selector. When this component fails in your Mercedes, it becomes very inconvenient and dangerous to drive the car. Both automatic and manual cars have gear levers and problems with the gear shift can pose a safety risk.
Fortunately, these issues are easy to identify and solve if you invest a little time and effort into understanding them and take them to the right mechanic for repair. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to deal with the gear selector problems in your Mercedes.
What Does Gear Selector Do?
The gear selector is sometimes called a gear stick or shift lever. It is a component of your Mercedes that is used to select the gears so that the car can move forward, backward, or stay in one spot. In automatic transmission vehicles, the gear shift lever enables one to select between the park, neutral, reverse, and drive options. Meanwhile, manual transmission cars assist in the changing of gears from one gear number to the other. When the gear selector develops issues, there are so many signs that you will notice. Let’s look at some of them below.
How You Can Know Your Gear Selector Has Issues
- Stiff or Jammed Gear Lever: One of the most prevalent issues is that the gear selector may become rigid or jammed. This issue can be caused by many factors such as lack of lubrication, damaged cables, or issues with the transmission linkage. If the gear lever is difficult to shift or if it seems to be stuck, it is wise to have the problem rectified to prevent the problem from happening when you’re on the highway.
- Gear Selector Not In Right Position: There are moments when the gear selector does not correlate with the selected gear on the indicator. For instance, when you put the lever to ‘Drive,’ the car remains in the ‘Neutral’ or another gear. This misalignment is caused by either a faulty linkage or problems with the gear selector mechanism of the car.
- Unusual Noises: Any squealing, grinding, clunking, or clicking sound that is heard when shifting gears is usually a sign that the gear lever has a problem. These sounds may indicate that the parts within the transmission have become worn out, not getting the lubrication they need, or may be due to other problems within the transmission system.
- Transmission Warning Lights: Most Mercedes models nowadays are fitted with several sensors and warning devices. If there is a problem with the gear selector or the transmission, the dashboard will display a warning light. This light is usually accompanied by error codes that can be used to identify the actual issue at hand. To see the error code, you need to scan your Mercedes with an OBD scanner.
Fixing Gear Selector Issues
- Lubricate Moving Parts: When your gear selector is hard to shift or sticks in a given position, it may be because of a lack of lubrication on the moving parts. It is recommended to use a high-quality lubricant that is specifically made for automotive applications. Apply it on the gear selector mechanism, cables, and linkage. This can help to minimize the level of friction and in turn, increase the efficiency of the gear shifting.
- Replace Worn-Out Components: If the cable, bushing, or other parts of the gear selector have become old and worn out, it can lead to issues. During your mechanic inspection, they may come across some parts that are visibly damaged; change them with new ones. When choosing the parts to be used, it is recommended to use OEM or good-quality aftermarket parts to match the functionality of the ones you are taking out.
- Adjust Transmission Linkage: If the problem is related to the transmission linkage then the shifting can be fixed by adjusting it. This is not a DIY task so it is better to turn to your mechanic to correctly make adjustments on the linkage.
Mercedes Experts You Can Count On In Hummelstown
If you are searching for a good shop to assist 
you with the repair of your Mercedes or other luxurious European cars, then look no further than Crowne Automotive. We have been in the business of serving Mercedes drivers in Hummelstown for several years now. Our experts also provide services to drivers from Hershey, Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Lebanon, Palmyra, Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Lancaster, Elizabethtown, and York, Pennsylvania.
If you experience any problems with the gear selector of your car, our mechanics can help you take care of it. Call us now to make an appointment!