SHIFTING PROBLEM '03 E320 WAGON

Brake switch, shift interlock solenoid or bad transmission range selector. Shift interlock won't let you shift out of park unless your foot is on the brake. So brake pedal starts the cycle. Next, the vehicle has to be in either park or neutral. So power flows from the brake switch through the transmission range selector which then sends power to the shift interlock solenoid which moves a pin out of the way, allowing you to shift out of park.

When you said "it wouldn't start" did it turn over (starter cranking the engine) or did it act like the battery was dead and wouldn't crank, even though all the dash lights lit up?

If it simply didn't crank over but then by you shifting it out of park, then back into park, may indicate a park/neutral switch problem.

It may have been something as simple as the shifter, when the vehicle was last parked, didn't fully engage the park/neutral switch into the park position. BUT by you moving the shifter out and back into park it engaged the switch.

Cold weather can do some strange things sometimes when it comes to mechanical devices. IF it acts up again, simply try the "trick" that worked the last time.

It may just be temperature related and may not give any more problems once the weather warms up.

Hope this helps.

shift lever does not move out of the PARK position with the ignition ON and the brake pedal pressed ?

Could be the park neutral switch. It senses that foot is on the brake pedal so shifter can be moved.

When you "muscled it into neural" you broke the shifter. Most likely it will take a replacement shifter to repair.

The column shifter needs replaced or if it has floor shift the linkage needs to be adjusted.

replace( shifter interlock motor)

You may have two problems here.
Neutral safety switch (for starting problems)
Shifter cable is the other.

sounds like you may have a bad safety switch on your shifter, if you have intermittent problems with it starting and it changes with movement of the shifter, it's probably the safety switch. The next time it doesn't start, shift to neutral and try it, if it starts, its the switch. The switch is designed to keep the engine from starting if it's in gear, but it will let you start in neutral and park.

Is there any warning lights or malfunction besides this?? There are three main parts that may cause this: Park/Neutral safety switch(located on the transmission), Brake pedal switch(located at the brake pedal), Shift lock solenoid(located below the shifter). P/N safety switch prevents the shifter from shifting out of (P) or shifting into (R/P) while vehicle is in motion. Brake pedal switch sends a signal to release the shifter lock to shift out of park. Shift lock, locks the shifter as describe above and is located at the shifter base. I recommend inspection/replacement of the shift lock solenoid and P/N safety switch as its an intermitted problem. Hopefully this helps