Cant get out of park at times!!!!

[smkn gts]

Hey Guys,

So here is the story, last summer when i was up north in michigan i got in my car and for some reason when i tried to put the car in reverse i just couldnt get the car out of park. After a bit of struggle i managed to get it working but it still acts up from time to time and i dont want to mess someting up. The car is parked for now but when i pull it out for the summer i need to get it fixed. I have been told that it is the electrical solenoid that sends the signal when i press down the brake to unlock it so i can put the car in drive. There is a place near by that will cut the wiring under the dash board so that it shifter will always be unlocked but i dont want the ses light to be on constantly either.

Has anyone ever had this problem? the transmission works great still, its just getting it out of park. Any suggestions? it seems like whatever i need to know someone has dealt with this before!!

Thanks for viewing

[JaycenK]

Have not had that problem but check the linkage at the trans just to be sure that it is not loose or binding up before you go cutting or replacing. Have someone move it from park to L1 and watch it under the car.

[smkn gts]

okay ill try that to make sure... =) thanks for the response

[35th-ANV-SS]

I've known 2 people to have this exact problem, but not on a f-body. One of the cars was a Ford Escort and the other a Tercel. On the Ford Escort there is a little access hole which has an override switch you can engage to by-bass the lock-out feature.

[67CamaroRSSS]

Were you parked on an incline by any chance? If so then you should put on the parking brake prior to putting it in park as this will give the parking pawl some slack. Parking on an incline (such as a non-level driveway), putting it in park then letting off of the brake allows the car to move either forward or backward (depending on incline) which engages the parking pawl beyond it's normal function making it hard to get back out of park.

If not then it may be the solenoid.

[Firebirdjones]

I'm interested in hearing this as well. If there is truely a way to disable that lock feature without cutting on the wire harness, I'd like to hear it.
I hate that feature.

[Cutlass]

I've disabled a couple shifter interlocks for people(not f-bodies). Usually I just take the console out and look at the shifter while pressing the brake and squeezing the shifter button. Once you figure out what is happening it usually pretty easy to figure out how to disable/disconnect it.
oh and it won't set an SES light or anything either.

[Firebirdjones]

I wonder if I could do something with it in Hptuner?? I never paid any attention to it in there.

[Cutlass]

no. its a simple circuit that doesn't run through a computer. the solenoid gets power from the brake switch and grounds through the park/neutral safety switch

[Y2KPewterSS]

Were you parked on an incline by any chance? If so then you should put on the parking brake prior to putting it in park as this will give the parking pawl some slack. Parking on an incline (such as a non-level driveway), putting it in park then letting off of the brake allows the car to move either forward or backward (depending on incline) which engages the parking pawl beyond it's normal function making it hard to get back out of park.

If not then it may be the solenoid.

I was thinking along the same lines.

[smkn gts]

thanks for all the responses guys.. sorry i was away from my computer all day.. you all have great ideas and at first i was on an incline but this has happened after just in park.. i have not taken apart the center counsel yet to check all of this out however maybe i should look into replacing or simply cutting the solenoid out. I have never had this trouble with a car before but the mechanics near where i live will cut it out for 100 bucks im just kinda wishing i could just fix the problem without just going in cutting!

[JaycenK]

thanks for all the responses guys.. sorry i was away from my computer all day.. you all have great ideas and at first i was on an incline but this has happened after just in park.. i have not taken apart the center counsel yet to check all of this out however maybe i should look into replacing or simply cutting the solenoid out. I have never had this trouble with a car before but the mechanics near where i live will cut it out for 100 bucks im just kinda wishing i could just fix the problem without just going in cutting!

Juw can do it!!! lol it's not that bad. dig in and do it. Spank that noid and once you fix it, you will have a massive woody after wards and find your self wanting to do more and more and more. lol

[smkn gts]

I am going to take your advice buddy.. ill keep my girlfriend around for afterwards lol

[FMBL]

My girlfriends 98 z28 was doing the same thing. The sensor connection is right under the ash tray. I disconnected it and no more problems. Before this She could hardly get it to move and at times I had to use both hands to push the button down.

After this you dont have to push the break down to shift anymore.

[smkn gts]

FMBL That is exactly the information i wanted to know! I thought i was the only one with this problem! I will definitely look under the ash tray first.. some times i could not press the button down so i would have to slam the top of the shifter to push the button down and i dont know why that worked.. All i have to do is cut the wire that leads to the solenoid? or should i just unscrew it and completely remove the solenoid?

[Firebirdjones]

It doesn't disable anything else necessary does it??

Things like trunk release, convertable top function, etc... I only ask because sometimes unplugging something on these cars affects other oddball things.

I hope it's that easy. I'll try it tonight.

[Firebirdjones]

FMBL That is exactly the information i wanted to know! I thought i was the only one with this problem! I will definitely look under the ash tray first.. some times i could not press the button down so i would have to slam the top of the shifter to push the button down and i dont know why that worked.. All i have to do is cut the wire that leads to the solenoid? or should i just unscrew it and completely remove the solenoid?

I would say just unplug it as he described. I know that's all I'm willing to try. I'm not going to start hacking on the harness.

[FMBL]

You might have to take the top part of the console off to disconnect it but should be able to see it under the ash tray. Just unplug it. The only thing it disables is having to press the brake to take it out of gear.

[FMBL]

Here is the link that I found when I unplugged mine about 2 months ago


http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...ut-park-40682/

[smkn gts]

Thats awesome i will definately do that.. you just saved me 100 bucks!!