🚨 1996 Mercedes-Benz S420 W140: Emergency Neutral
The W140 S420 uses a traditional column-mounted shift lever with electronic shift interlock controlled by the brake-light switch.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — details like the exact override location may vary by trim; verify visually before prying anything.
⚠️ Chock the wheels first — neutral means the car can roll. Set the parking brake while you work, never stand downhill of the vehicle, and try a 12-volt jump before any override: power fixes most stuck-in-park problems instantly.
The procedure
- Ensure the parking brake is firmly set and wheels are chocked
- Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2 (ACC or ON) if battery has any charge remaining
- Locate the shift lock override - it is a small rectangular slot approximately 1 inch long, located on the right side of the column shroud near the base of the shifter
- Remove the small plastic cover cap from the override slot by gently prying with a flat screwdriver or your fingernail
- Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver or the emergency key blade into the override slot
- Press firmly downward on the override while simultaneously pressing the shifter button and moving the lever to Neutral
- Keep the override depressed until the shifter is fully in Neutral position
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular slot on the right side of the column shroud near the shifter base, covered by a plastic cap
With zero electrical power
With completely dead battery, the column lock may engage making steering impossible. You can still shift to Neutral using the mechanical override, but the vehicle can only be towed with front wheels OFF the ground or on a flatbed. The override works purely mechanically and does not require any electrical power.