3 Puzzle Lane Unit 1 Newton, NH 03858
603-382-5100
Mercedes-Benz is a reliable brand, so you always expect it to respond and perform as it should while you’re driving. That can make it especially alarming if you go to change gears and your car doesn’t respond as expected — or simply doesn’t respond at all. If this happens to you, it’s possible your problem is with the gear selector.
When your gear selector starts acting up, you need to get it checked out quickly. Let’s take a look at why your gear selector might be malfunctioning and what we can do about it.
Common Causes of Gear Selector Problems
- Electrical Malfunctions: There are a lot of electronics involved in your Mercedes’s transmission. It makes use of everything from sensors to solenoids to perform how it’s supposed to, so when those components have problems, they can manifest in troubling ways. If you are having problems shifting gears, the indicated gear not matching the actual gear, or the car not starting when in park, your gear selector electronics may be to blame.
- Worn or Damaged Selector Mechanism: As you use your gear selector over time, certain parts involved in the mechanical operation of the piece can wear out. The cables, levers, and even the shifter itself can succumb to wear and tear, causing your gear selector to wiggle loosely, stick in the wrong spots, or just refuse to engage.
- Software Issues: Your Mercedes has quite a lot of software in it, and if any of it gets corrupted or falls behind in updates, it can cause various parts to stop working right — and your gear selector is no exception.
- Faulty Transmission Control Module: The TCM is the brain behind your car’s transmission, so if it isn’t working right, you’re going to feel it, possibly in the gear selector. A faulty TCM can cause incorrect gear readings or cause your car to be stuck in a single gear.
How Do We Diagnose Gear Selector Problems?
When we suspect gear selector issues, our first step is a thorough visual inspection. We take a look at the gear selector mechanisms to see if there is any visible damage or wear, or even just a misalignment.
The next step is to use our state of the art diagnostic tools to scan your Mercedes’ electronic systems. These systems will provide us with error codes that can help us pinpoint specific issues, like sensors that aren’t working or software that needs an update. Our tools work directly with Mercedes’ systems, so we can get the accurate results you need.
For more complex issues, we may also need to test individual parts of the gear selector system, like the sensors, cables, and the TCM. This can help us isolate the problem for faster repairs.
Gear Selector Repairs
Depending on what the diagnostics come up with, there are a number of ways to repair your gear selector. We may replace faulty sensors, repair wiring, or address connection problems if the issue is electrical. If it’s more just wear and tear, the solution is usually to just replace the parts as needed — with high-quality OEM parts, of course.
We will also update your software as needed, and perform a transmission fluid change or even a flush, depending on your recent maintenance. And of course, if the TCM is faulty, we’ll replace it with an entirely new unit, fully programmed and ready to go, so your gear selector will be able to respond to your inputs and adjust the transmission as needed.
Absolute Auto Care Inc.: Mercedes Experts
At Absolute Auto Care Inc., we get that it’s 
easy to forget how many small parts it takes for your Mercedes to function. From the hood to the trunk, your car is a complex machine, and we’re here to help you take care of all of it. If you suspect your gear selector is having issues, we can run our diagnostics and figure out the problem.
We’re located in Newton, NH, and are also proud to serve drivers from Andover, Haverhill, Newburyport, North Andover in Massachusetts, and Plaistow in New Hampshire. If you live in or around these areas and need help taking care of your Mercedes, we’d love to speak with you. Call or stop by today to learn more!