Put Mercedes-Benz Transmission in Neutral

On most Mercedes models from about 2005 onward you cannot put the transmission into neutral without a working key and power to the car, which is precisely the situation people are usually in when they need to. Older cars can be overridden at the shifter even with a dead battery. Chock the wheels before you start either way, because a car in neutral on any slope will move.

If you cannot turn on the ignition or do not have a key, you can use the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro scanner to get the car into Neutral by following the steps in the following video.

How to get a Mercedes-Benz in neutral.

1. If the battery is dead, open the hood and locate the jump-start terminals. Almost all Mercedes-Benz cars have a jump terminal in the engine bay, even if the battery is in the trunk. If you cannot find the jump terminals,  power up the car by connecting directly to the battery. 
2. Turn the ignition on. If your car has START/STOP, you can pull the button and use the key to turn the ignition. The key must turn in the ignition before moving to the next step.
3. Press the parking brake, or the car may roll away when you get it out of Park.
4. Press the brake pedal hard.
5. Move the shifter up to get the transmission into Reverse. The display shows a change from P to R.
6. Move the shifter down (without pressing the button on the shifter), and the gear shows the change from reverse (R) to neutral (N).
7. Be careful when releasing the brake pedal because the vehicle will roll off and cause injuries.

Notes

• If the transmission doesn’t get out of Park, you may have a weak jump box, a faulty ignition switch (EIS), or a key the car does not recognize. These three are the most common reasons you can’t get a Mercedes-Benz out of Park and into Neutral.
• If you need to push the car into the garage, leave the key in the ignition. The owner’s manual procedure is: switch the ignition on, hold the brake pedal, shift to N, release the brake and the parking brake, then switch the ignition off and leave the key in the ignition lock. The key can only be removed with the transmission in P, and on many models opening the driver’s door while in D or R engages P automatically.
• Do not tow a Mercedes-Benz in neutral with the wheels rolling or risk damaging the transmission.

Why does the Mercedes-Benz transmission get stuck in the Park?

A Mercedes-Benz that won’t go into neutral can be caused by several issues, such as a faulty shifter assembly, damaged shifter cable, failed solenoid, low fluid levels, or electronic faults in the transmission control module. If the shifter assembly is damaged, the transmission lever may not move properly, and the vehicle will not turn neutral. A damaged shifter cable can also prevent the transmission lever from moving, resulting in the vehicle not going into neutral. Failed solenoids in the transmission can cause incorrect gear shifting, preventing the vehicle from going into neutral.

Low fluid levels can also cause transmission issues, including being unable to shift into neutral. If the transmission control module has electronic faults, it can also prevent the vehicle from going into neutral. If you’re experiencing this issue, it’s recommended to have a professional diagnose the problem to get your vehicle back on the road.

Keep Mercedes-Benz Transmission in Neutral

By design, when you turn off the Mercedes-Benz ignition, the gear selector automatically switches to Park even if you don’t press Park. Follow this procedure to keep the Mercedes-Benz automatic transmission neutral even after you turn off the ignition.

First, the vehicle must be secured, or it will roll away and cause an accident.

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground.
2. Press the parking brake button on the side of the steering wheel.
3. Open the driver’s door, remain in the vehicle, and press the brake pedal.
4. Move the gear selector stack to neutral by pressing it up or down.
5. Disconnect both auxiliary and car batteries.

Be extremely careful, as the vehicle may roll away and cause injuries. We strongly recommend using wheelchocks to prevent the vehicle from moving away. Do not tow a Mercedes-Benz vehicle with the automatic transmission in neutral, or you will damage the transmission.

This method applies to 2005 and newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles with a gear selector on the steering column. In 2005 and older models, shifting the transmission to neutral is possible by overriding the shifter even if the battery or engine is dead.

Chock the wheels before you start

Putting the transmission into neutral removes the park pawl that is holding the car still, and on these models the electric parking brake may not be available if the battery is flat. Chock at least one wheel, or make sure the car is on level ground with someone in the driver’s seat, before releasing anything. A car that rolls off a flatbed ramp or down a driveway turns a recovery job into a repair bill.

Neutral for towing is not neutral for distance

Most modern Mercedes automatic transmissions are not designed to be flat towed with the wheels on the ground for any real distance, because the gearbox is not being lubricated with the engine stopped. Neutral is there to let the car be winched or pushed a short way onto a transporter, not to be towed across town. For anything beyond a few meters, use a flatbed or at minimum lift the driven wheels.

If the car will not go into neutral at all, that is usually a dead battery or a fault in the electronic selector module rather than a mechanical problem. A full system scan reads the selector and transmission modules and shows whether the car is registering the request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mercedes shift back to Park by itself?

Many Mercedes models with an electronic shifter select Park automatically when the engine is switched off or the driver’s door is opened. That protects the car from rolling, but it means you must follow the specific neutral procedure for car washes or towing.

Can I put a Mercedes in neutral with a dead battery?

The electronic shifter needs power, so on most models you must jump start or connect a booster first. Check the owner’s manual for your model in case it has an emergency release.

Is it safe to tow a Mercedes in neutral?

Short distances at low speed are usually allowed for two wheel drive models, but 4MATIC cars should be transported on a flatbed. Always check the towing section of your owner’s manual.

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