Why Your Sprinter Won’t Shift Out of Park

One day, you are trying to drive your Sprinter and you realize that your gear is stuck in “park.” This is an indication of a problem with your car’s transmission system and while a simple jiggle might be able to fix the issue, it is not always that easy if there’s a major problem. In this guide, we will go into detail to help you understand why you could be experiencing such issues and what to do about the situation.

Reasons for Stuck Gear Shift in Your Sprinter

The transmission system is made up of various components including the gearbox and the gear stick. Its function is to transfer force from the engine to the car wheels to aid movement. This helps a driver to change gear and control speed.

One of the problems you can encounter with your car’s transmission system is a gear that cannot shift and this can be frustrating to fix unless you understand why it is happening. Hence, here are some common causes of stuck gear shifts in a car.

Faulty Brake Light Switch

Although a small device, the brake light switch plays an important role in your car’s function. It is attached to the brake pedal and sends signals to the car’s computer to indicate when the brakes are engaged. However, if this switch gets faulty, the car’s system won’t receive any signal when you press the brake pads and as such, you cannot shift your gear out of park.

Pawl Pressure

Another major cause of stuck gear shift (in “park”) is high pawl pressure. This usually happens when you park your car on an elevated or inclined surface, increasing the pressure on the parking pawl. The parking pawl is a device that locks up the transmission to keep the car wheels from rolling. When the pressure from the car’s weight gets too much, the parking pawl can get wedged in parking mode, making it difficult to shift your gear from “park.”

Worn Out Transmission

Since the gear is a part of the transmission system, any problem with other components of the transmission can also impact the gear’s functions. Hence, if you cannot seem to get your car out of “park,” the problem could be due to transmission issues such as natural wear and damage, or low transmission fluid levels due to leaks.

Engaged Parking Brake

This is a common mistake that many drivers make. The parking brake usually helps to take the pressure off the gear’s “park” to keep the car stationary, especially when on inclined surfaces. However, you can easily forget to disengage the parking car as you are about to drive out; when this happens, your car’s gear will not shift out of “park.”

Damaged Shifter Mechanism

The gear shifter mechanism helps to shift smoothly between park and drive or reverse. However, if this mechanism develops faults, the shifter may prevent you from shifting your car’s gear out of park even when you engage the brakes.

If your Sprinter has such a transmission issue, you can try some solutions to help you fix it. For example, you can use a sealant to seal up leaking transmission and refill so the transmission fluid levels return to optimal.

You can also try to repair or replace worn-out parts to get your car back to its original function. However, you must make sure that your decisions are not just out of the blue; ensure that they are backed up by an expert’s recommendations.

Where to Fix Your Sprinter’s Gear Shift Problems in Georgia

Working with an expert for your car’s repairs can help you avoid more complications and also save you some repair costs in the long run. Even if you seem to have found a fix for your stuck gear shift, endeavor to allow a mechanic to confirm that all is good with your car’s system.

Sprinter Gurus are the best choice if you are looking for professional and well-rounded services for your Sprinter. We start with diagnosis using high-quality diagnostic tools; once we figure out the issue, our certified technicians will be on top of the matter for exceptional repair services. We are a leading auto repair center for Sprinter vans, serving Gwinnett County in Norcross, GA.

* Mercedes-Benz Sprinter image credit goes to: DarthArt.