Help!! Stuck in Park
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Eden, UT
Help!! Stuck in Park
98 C5 with A4 (obviously) is stuck in park. When pushing down the brake pedal and the shifter button nothing happens. This happened to me in the winter a couple times but I figured it was just the cold temps as once it warmed up it shifted fine. Now its the dead of summer and it just won't shift. How can I bypass this of fix? Anyone dealt with this before? Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
I fixed my daughter's 95 Oldsmobile when she had this problem. There was an electrical solonoid looking device linked to the shifter. Apparantly the electrical connections in the circuit were not good every time. You can either checkout and clean all the contacts including ground, or disconnect the "hold in park" linkage. 
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 69
Likes: 5
From: Phoenix Arizona
Had the same problem on a different car, but check to make sure when you step on the brakes the Brake Lights illuminate. If the brake lights do not illuminate; that will prevent you from shifting out of park with an automatic transmission because the shift lever and brake light is on the same circuit, thanks to the feds. Check the brake light fuse, and if no illumination of brake lights, if that is your problem, change the fuse, and if it blows again, then get ready to spend some of your hard earned money on diagnostics- my guess would be an intermittent short or open wire, or loose ground. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
can't shift
Well,it sounds like your shift lock is not unlocking like it's supposed to when you hit the brake.Look for something near the shifter that says shift lock over ride,usually it's just a small round hole.If you find it,a pen or small screw driver is all you need to get the shift lock released so you can drive to get it fixed!I don't remember where it is located on a vette,since i have a 6spd now.good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
I couldn't find a shift lock release on my car although there is one on another car I own. I found the following in the 2000 owners manual:
'If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish."
I am not sure what this means but you might try it. I can't try it on my car since it functions correctly.
'If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish."
I am not sure what this means but you might try it. I can't try it on my car since it functions correctly.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas Nevada
This might help. I have a 97 that when the outside temp gets above 95 (I live in Vegas, so it's often) it would not always shift out of Park.
What is happening is that the cable connected to the shifter does not always overcome the friction in the ignition due to expansion of parts when it is hot. Lubrication helps, and it solved my problem:
- pop the shift button off
- lift up the cable end inside the shift ****
- use an aersol can of CRC or WD40 with the small plastic tube, and press the tube as far down into the hole where the cable comes out
- SLOWLY spray down the cable housing - give several good shots
- put it back together, and wait an hour or so for the lubricant to work its way in
It should release easily, unless the cable is actually broken, then you are out of luck.
What is happening is that the cable connected to the shifter does not always overcome the friction in the ignition due to expansion of parts when it is hot. Lubrication helps, and it solved my problem:
- pop the shift button off
- lift up the cable end inside the shift ****
- use an aersol can of CRC or WD40 with the small plastic tube, and press the tube as far down into the hole where the cable comes out
- SLOWLY spray down the cable housing - give several good shots
- put it back together, and wait an hour or so for the lubricant to work its way in
It should release easily, unless the cable is actually broken, then you are out of luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Eden, UT
Well after pulling the **** I squirted some silicione lubricant down the rod that the botton pushes down, worked it a bit, gave it another shot and now it works like a charm. Unlocks before I even get it halfway down. Getting that staple out to remove the **** when it was stuck in park was a PIA tho - had to use a mirror and a jewelers screwdriver.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Eden, UT
Originally Posted by mrtoner
Glad it worked...
Well it sort of worked - starting to act up again, had to push the button down hard yesterday am and shake the shifter for about 10 sec. Looks like I'll have to pull the console after all and disable or replace the solenoid
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Originally Posted by Kokopelli
Well it sort of worked - starting to act up again, had to push the button down hard yesterday am and shake the shifter for about 10 sec. Looks like I'll have to pull the console after all and disable or replace the solenoidI bet that takes care of it...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 261
Likes: 23
From: Eden, UT
Originally Posted by mrtoner
Before you do that, see if you can pop the cable out of the back end of the ignition switch, spray lubricant into the end of the cable, and into the hole it goes into.
I bet that takes care of it...
I bet that takes care of it...
Still got to pull the console to do that, right?
