Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
Yesterday, the message board in my car started showing seven warnings. Those include the check engine light, brake assist, SRS, ABS, active body control, ESP and speed distronic warnings. I tried starting the car and it runs rough. Also, I'm unable to shift from park into gear. What do you think might be the cause of this?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. From the symptoms you describe it would appear that your vehicle may possibly have a faulty stoplight switch. The stoplight switch lets the computer know that the brakes are being applied, so that the vehicle can be safely shifted. A bad stoplight switch can cause the vehicle to be stuck in park, as well as set off the warning lights. However, it is likely not the cause of your engine running rough. A rough running engine can be caused by a wide variety of issues, so a proper diagnosis would be required. I would recommend having an expert retrieve the trouble codes with a scan tool, and replacing the brake light switch if it is bad.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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The ABS (anti-lock braking) and ESP (electronic stability program) lights usually come on at the same time because the two systems share components. WHen the lights are on, it means that the controller has seen a malfunction and stored a fault code describing that malfunction.
ESP®, or Electronic Stability Control, is the name Mercedes-Benz gives to its powertrain management system. Its main goal is to keep the car on all four wheels and facing forward at all times.
Because the ABS and traction control often share the same module, a problem with one mechanism might be indicated by a light for both. If the brake system is malfunctioning, the traction control light might come on as a result. The light for your ABS might also come on if the brake fluid is low.
Yes, it is safe to drive with ESP light on but we wouldn`t recommend it? If your ESP light is on it means you`ve switched it off or there`s a fault with the system and it`s not operating correctly. As a result, it won`t be able to stop your spinning like it would do if it was operational.
Start your vehicle, and while parked, turn the steering wheel as far as it can go to the right, then do the same but to the left. Repeat this process a few times, then turn off the vehicle. When you restart your vehicle, the light should be reset.
With the ESC/ESP turned off, you remove the feature to control independent braking, but the ABS still functions like it does on all cars that don`t have thet ESC/ESP feature.
On all car models, the ESP G419 sensor unit is installed under the left seat.
What Causes ESP to Malfunction? A common cause is a faulty wheel speed sensor, often described as an ABS sensor. Bolted to the suspension, down in the depths of the wheel, brake and hub assembly.
If the TCS and the ABS warning lights both come on, along with the red main brake warning light, you should not drive the car until the problem has been fixed. Your entire braking system is affected, and may not be able to stop your vehicle when you need it to. Have your vehicle towed to a repair shop.
The ESP also tells your engine to reduce power if you are steering vigorously, which then affects the power that is being supplied to individual wheels. As you can imagine, the failure of this system can be very dangerous when driving in bad conditions, and can cause severe accidents.
ESC and ESP are practically the same thing, ESC stands for Electronic Stability Control and ESP stands for Electronic Stability Programme. Your car may have an alternate system such as: VDC (vehicle dynamic control), VSA (vehicle stability assist) or DSC (dynamic stability control).
If you see the ESP light is on and flashing, then the ESP system is operating. You`ll likely feel more grip on your wheels while the system is on. If the ESP light is on constantly, without any flickering, then the ESP system has been turned off or isn`t operating properly.
If the ESC light stays on after you replace the battery, don`t panic. All you need to do is start the car and turn the steering wheel fully left and right several times. Then drive for a minute, and the ABS and ESP lights should reset. Once the system does a self-check, it should reset the stability light.
In order to operate, your ABS system needs electricity. This is controlled by the anti-lock fuses and relay. The first fuse (a 10 amp fuse) must be good in order for electricity to flow to the relay, and the relay must function to provide power to the second fuse (a 30 amp fuse).
During a journey, the warning message “ABS, ESP inoperative, see operator`s manual” may occur sporadically. The message can be temporarily rectified by switching the ignition off and on.
Resetting Your ABS Dashboard Warning Light
Step One: Disconnect the positive cable from your car battery. Then, hold down the brake pedal to drain the vehicle`s electrical system. This will result in a reset of the car`s central computer. Plug the cable back in to restore power.
Removing a wheel speed sensor will disable ABS—and sometimes, stability control. If your car has a yaw sensor, you can unplug that for results. You can also try simply unplugging the ABS module, though that could adversely affect your car`s braking performance.
The anti-lock function will stop working properly, which may increase the distance it takes to safely stop your vehicle. The rear tires will lock, which will increase vehicle swing on turns and may make your vehicle more difficult to control.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is effectively an extension of ABS, though much more complex. It can have many names, including dynamic stability control, vehicle stability control and active stability control, but they all function in much the same way.
ESC helps keep the car in control when the vehicle is trying to skid or slide (approaching a corner too fast). It does this by applying the brakes (ABS) to one or all of the wheels to keep the car pointed in the direction you want.
Installing an ESP system would require complex wiring and changing of parts which would cost at least Rs. 50,000 and would still have reliability issues.
How does ESP work? The Electronic Stability Program uses the Steering angle sensor, yaw rate sensor, ECU, a hydraulic unit and similar to TCS, a wheel speed sensor. Well, the speed sensor is one of the most used sensors in an automobile (for obvious reasons).
What causes the ESP light to come on? If you are driving on a slippery surface, the electronic stability program light will typically come on when your car loses traction. Normally, it will flash while the system is engaged and then turn off as traction is regained and your car returns to normal.
The ABS or traction control system may be inadvertently activated by these false or inaccurate signals. There is a good chance that during the course of having the tires changed, the wheel sensors may have been bumped or moved causing them to trigger the ABS light to come on.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive – 2001 Mercedes Benz CL600
ANSWER : Hello. From the symptoms you describe it would appear that your vehicle may possibly have a faulty stoplight switch. The stoplight switch lets the computer know that the brakes are being applied, so that the vehicle can be safely shifted. A bad stoplight switch can cause the vehicle to be stuck in park, as well as set off the warning lights. However, it is likely not the cause of your engine running rough. A rough running engine can be caused by a wide variety of issues, so a proper diagnosis would be required. I would recommend having an expert retrieve the trouble codes with a scan tool, and replacing the brake light switch if it is bad.
Read Full Q/A … : Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
My car will not shift out of drive and into park – 1999 Hyundai Sonata
ANSWER : Hi. This sounds like the ignition switch has a problem and is not allowing the car to go into park. If the ignition switch is not sending the signal to the neutral safety switch that the key is in the run position, it will not allow the shifter to move. It is also possible that the shift linkage is damaged and is causing the problem you have as well.
I suggest you have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to determine why the car is not shifting properly and suggest the necessary repairs
Read Full Q/A … : Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
Truck stalls when shifting into drive from park or reverse
ANSWER : Hi there. The vehicle running great, once past the initial stall, leads me away from a fuel delivery concern. The stalling issue may be, the minimum airflow rate is not properly set. This could be the result of a dirty or worn throttle body. Cleaning and/or making an adjustment to the throttle body may correct the problem. Engine running at idle, plug the IAC passage, and the RPM (revolutions per minute) should be at or near 400 rpm. A vacuum leak present could also cause the engine idle to be improperly controlled and needs to be identified before any adjustments are made. I recommend having your vehicle’s stalling issue be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
Read Full Q/A … : Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
Getting it into Park after driving & Getting it out of park to drive the car.
ANSWER : You should have the shift cable disconnected from the transmission to make sure the hard shift problem is in the shift cable or shifter assembly and not in the transmission. The most common cause is going to be in the shifter mechanism due to problems in the shifter. Have the shifter cable disconnected at both ends and check to make sure it moves free or it binds and shifter moves free. You may need to replace the shifter or shift cable and would need to be isolated to what one is cause.
Read Full Q/A … : Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
My pacifica runs and drives only reverse when i shift it to drive dies quickly . But you can shift it to reverse and neutral
ANSWER : This is an internal problem with the transmission and may be a valve body or leaking internal seal. The problem is the transmission leaking pressure internally, and when you put it in drive, the transmission is trying to go into reverse and drive at the same time causing the transmission to stall the engine. Have a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, scan the computer to see if a code is received that will help detect the cause. They will be able to diagnose your stalling issue, and any other problem you are having, so that a proper repair can be made.
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Won’t shift past 2nd gear . It drives normal to 2nd gear but wont shift into 3r – 2000 Ford F150 4×4
ANSWER : Hello – I don’t think this is related to switching back to 2WD per se. There is a shift position sensor on the side of the transmission, and it’s possible that the snow activity caused moisture and/or dirt to get into the sensor. I would recommend a transmission inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
Car begins to roll when the shift lever is in park had only starts in the neutral position, just rebuilt the transmission
ANSWER : The neutral start safety switch could be misaligned or a fault in the linkage and./or cable could be contributing to the problem because "Park" is not actually reached when you move the shifter. The whole mechanism from the manual lever on the transmission up to shifter will have to be inspected. The manual lever should be inspected separately inasmuch as you indicate abnormal resistance in certain gear selections. In addition, it sounds like the shift interlock may not be functioning. The recommended service to obtain a diagnosis of all of these issues is a shift linkage/interlock inspection. If you request that service, the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
Shifting issues from drive to reverse and back to drive
ANSWER : Mercedes has a dealer service order (#Order No: S-B-27.19/118A
) that addresses diagnosis, and possible dealer repair of the transmission for your model. Check with your dealer to confirm coverage of this.
) that addresses diagnosis, and possible dealer repair of the transmission for your model. Check with your dealer to confirm coverage of this.
Read Full Q/A … : Seven warnings came on, can’t shift from park to drive
