🚨 1997 Mercedes-Benz S600: Emergency Neutral
The 1997 S600 (W140 chassis) uses a traditional column-mounted shifter with an electronic shift interlock system.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — cross-check against your owner’s manual when possible.
⚠️ 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 vehicle is on level ground and the parking brake is firmly engaged
- Turn the ignition key to position II (ON) if battery power is available
- Locate the shift lock override slot on the left side of the steering column shroud, near the base of the shifter lever
- Remove the small rectangular plastic cap covering the override slot using a flathead screwdriver or your fingernail
- Insert a small flathead screwdriver or the key into the override slot
- Press the override release firmly downward while simultaneously moving the shifter from Park to Neutral
- Keep the override depressed until the shifter is fully engaged in Neutral
Shift-lock override location
Left side of the steering column shroud near the base of the shifter lever, behind a small rectangular plastic cap
With zero electrical power
With completely dead battery, the shift interlock solenoid defaults to locked position. You MUST use the mechanical override slot procedure above. If the steering wheel is locked, you may need to jump-start the vehicle momentarily to unlock steering before towing. Consider connecting a jump box or donor vehicle briefly to unlock systems, then disconnect and use override to shift to neutral.