C5 stuck in Park
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
C5 stuck in Park
My son has a 1999 C5 with an automatic trans. He went out to go to school this morning and the shift lever cannot be moved from the park position.
This happened once before, a few weeks ago, and we rocked the car a little and cycled the ignition key and it cleared up. We thought the problem was parking on our slanted driveway without setting the e-brake.
We called the Corvette store where we bought the car and they said that there is a solenoid on the shifter that keeps you from shifting from park to reverse without the brake pedal depressed for safety. They said this is a common problem and that they normally just take off the solenoid.
I hate to do this without some further input. Right now the car is backed into the driveway. It starts and runs fine and there are no codes set. I have a lot of automotive experience, just not with Corvettes. Now that I'm disabled and my hands no longer work, I have to talk my son through any repairs. He is somewhat mechanically challenged.
Any input from forum members who have had or know about this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
This happened once before, a few weeks ago, and we rocked the car a little and cycled the ignition key and it cleared up. We thought the problem was parking on our slanted driveway without setting the e-brake.
We called the Corvette store where we bought the car and they said that there is a solenoid on the shifter that keeps you from shifting from park to reverse without the brake pedal depressed for safety. They said this is a common problem and that they normally just take off the solenoid.
I hate to do this without some further input. Right now the car is backed into the driveway. It starts and runs fine and there are no codes set. I have a lot of automotive experience, just not with Corvettes. Now that I'm disabled and my hands no longer work, I have to talk my son through any repairs. He is somewhat mechanically challenged.
Any input from forum members who have had or know about this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
C5 NOT stuck in park any longer
We took apart the console and found the magnetic interlock on the shift linkage. We removed it completely and tied off the wiring for it.
With the key off, the shifter is still locked in the park position. The only difference is that you don't have to put your foot on the brake pedal to shift the transmission from park with the engine running. This is just like our older vehicles and hot rods, so no problem.
We found that a wire had shaken loose from the connector. We also found that we needed to remove the console to get to the interlock, but that we also needed to move the shifter to the neutral position to remove the console. It took some extreme care, but we were finally able to remove the console with no damage and complete the modification.
Hope this never happens to you.
With the key off, the shifter is still locked in the park position. The only difference is that you don't have to put your foot on the brake pedal to shift the transmission from park with the engine running. This is just like our older vehicles and hot rods, so no problem.
We found that a wire had shaken loose from the connector. We also found that we needed to remove the console to get to the interlock, but that we also needed to move the shifter to the neutral position to remove the console. It took some extreme care, but we were finally able to remove the console with no damage and complete the modification.
Hope this never happens to you.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield CA
It is currently 4:14 AM here in California and instead of being asleep like i should be im up and awake pissed off at the Vette because i am having this same problem! I woke up at the fiance's house and tried to drive home but the car won't come out of park! Being halfway asleep and trying to get a car out of park that won't move is quite frusterating. And now my baby is parked outside of the fiance's house 5 miles away and since shes not right outside my window i'm gonna be worried about her all night... AAHH!!
