have a 2000 E-320. transponder key turns on instrument cluster lites on, but will not activate starter. starter can be turned an relay, so battery,salenoid and starter are ok. key activates door locks. car had been hard to take out of park, but by pressing hard on brake pedal it can be. replaced brake lite switch with new one from dealer, and with new switch can't get out of park, put old switch back and now are able to get out of park. New switch came from MB dealer, but was not in a box, wife p/u, I thought it was unusual, but car still wont start. lucky for me it is at the house. can anyone point me in the direction to isolate problem. it was intermittent when it first started , but now is completely dead in the water. appreciate any help. I have a DVD service disk but it is on a S600, but does not have a diagnostic tree that was common on older paper manuals I am used to. thanks/Alex

past cars
1960 220 SEB
1971 280 SE 4.5
1979 450 SLC
1979 240 D
1979 300 SD
current cars
1988 560 SL
2000 E-320
2003 S600
2000 Allegro Zephry
2000 Ford Excursion
2006 Ford E-350 Van

 

Almost sounds as if you may have a problem with the esm(shifter) by the way you described trouble shifting the gears. Does the gear display show up on the instrument cluster?

 

I belive you hit the nail on the head, did not notice before but gear selector read out does not show gear selection. everything else appears to be on. Alex

 

no gear selection indication, what does that indicate for fault ? Thanks again. Alex