I spilled a bottle of water on my shift console. Our tempratures dropped and my automatic shifter is froze. Do I need to take my car to a mechanic for a fix?

check shift cable and linkage. may have a broken bushing

follow the steps . God bless you
Instructions

1. • 1 Start the engine. Press firmly on the brake while wiggling the shifter from side to side.
     
   • 2 Remove the console surrounding the shifter. It is usually very easy although you may need to use the screwdriver to lift an edge or remove a clip
     
   • 3 Look inside the shifter mechanism for any sticky substance. Often when drinks are spilled on the console they seep down into the shifter mechanism and make the interlock solenoid sticky, meaning that it sticks closed when you press the brake and the car won't come out of park.
     
   • 4 Remove any sticky substance with the alcohol. Start the engine, press the brake and try to move the shifter out of park. If it still does not move then there may be another issue with the interlock.
     
   • 5 Examine the shifter for a release button that will allow you to move the vehicle out of park so it can be taken to a repair shop. It is usually hidden under a small flap or cover that will have to be lifted with a small screwdriver.
     

The car has a brake light powered Park lock, so if the brake lights are not working when the pedal is pressed the car will not come out of park. Check the brake lights first. Also the owners manual should have a set of instructions to bypass the part lock, it varies with each car but some you turn the key to just short of the on position and wiggle the shifter while doing that, others there is a button hidden on the shift console. I would look it up but MB doesn't allow free access to the owners manuals of thier cars and trucks.

Hello, the shifter can bind up due to the linkage inside the console, it's a common problem if there was anything spilled into the shift console, anything containing sugar will cause problems like this. remove the shift plate that surrounds the shifter you should b able to just pop it off, spray the inside with a solution of detergent and warm water, moving the shifter back and forth, this should keep the shift interlock from sticking.

yes shifter box under console has shorted so computer does not know which gear you have selected it will need whole shiftergate replaced

If you have spilled any coke or coffee on shifter it will cause the shift lock actuator to stick if you have floor shifter. You will have to remove center console to clean. If nothing has been spilled shift lock actuator needs to be replaced.

You might want to try sparying a lubricant down in the shifter lever surround itself...sometimes when soda or other sugary drinks get spilled in that area, the release mechanism gets gummed up, not allowing the catch to release properly...try some WD40 or some other pennetrating spray oil.
Spray it into every crack and crevice around the shifter, and all of the plastic parts too. Wipe off the excess and allow it about 20 minutes to penetrate deep into the parts of the shifter. Put your key into the ignition and WITHOUT STARTING THE CAR AND YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKES, keep sliding the shifter into every gear over and over again. Try this first in order to see if this fixes the problem...if this doesn't do it, you may need to invest some $$$ to have it looked at. I know this sounds simple, but it could save you some serious money if this fixes your problem.

yes

you have what is called a btsi, brake trans shift interlock that may be the problem, usually there is a little square cover on the console you can remove and use a screwdriver to depress the latching mechanism to shift the car out of park

Most common is a failing brake light switch. If the brake lights don't come on when the shifter is stuck and they work when the shifter works you need a new switch.

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