I can't move the gear selector from P, could this be a battery issue?

My 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has only done 21,000 miles. I've had it from new with the original battery. It stood idle for three weeks and was sluggish to start yesterday. I switched on the heated rear windscreen and blower to clear frost but the gear selector would not move from P. I ran the engine for a few minutes but the fault persisted. Later that day I started it again, this time I was able to select gears as normal. I ran the engine for 20 minutes last night and the gear selection is okay today. Could low voltage and a failing battery cause this?

Asked on 6 November 2020 by William Fleming

Answered by Keith Moody
Yes, a low battery voltage can cause gear selection issues. If you can, invest in a decent trickle charger to keep the battery in good health and prevent the issue from happening again.
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