Hello- Is there a way to bypass or disable the gear shift lever solenoid, or mechanism that keeps the shift from moving unless your foot is on the brake on my 1993 240? My solenoid is bad and I would just like to get rid of this annoying feature once and for all!
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1993 240, 1992 240GL, 1985 240DL Wagon, 1983 240DL

Before you go to all that trouble, and for the benefit of others searching the board, can you explain how you know the solenoid itself is bad? I fully understand a certain frustration which moves you to get rid of the "feature."


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Art Benstein near Baltimore

The math professor went crazy with the blackboard; he did a number on it.

Update-after replacing and or tightening bolts holding shifting unit in place everything else appears to now be working.

As always, thanks for all the help!
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1993 240, 1992 240GL, 1985 240DL Wagon, 1983 240DL

On my 940, if I recall correctly, there was a solenoid at the base of the shifter. When it was in the 'correct' position I inserted a tiny sliver of metal that would prevent the sliding part of the solenoid from returning to the locked state. I figured that if this was a bad idea I could always remove that sliver. This was about seven years ago. I can't really remember if this solved the problem with the brake pedal or the shifter not moving but maybe the sliver idea will work for you.

I did this to my 1993 940. Removed shifter from car, reached down inside and broke off the solenoid and its mounting tabs. All is fine, everything works great, and that was about 18 months ago. I did paint over the shiftlock warning, so nobody looks down and thinks there's a safety feature present when there isn't.

That said, yours is a different model and has a one-year-only shifter mechanism, so you MIGHT have a different experience. I've never seen the inside of a late 240 shifter.

I had a spare junkyard shifter unit "on hand" in case I screwed things up.

john
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1989 245 245K / 1993 945 131K