A4 shifter won't release from park
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Draper, UT
A4 shifter won't release from park
Jumped in my 98 A4 to go for a ride and the tranny shifter would not release from park. I pushed the release button many times, banged the button with my hand, moved the shift forward and backward and it still would not release. Finally after moving the shifter back and forth in park and banging on the shifter more thimes than I want to count. It finally released and I was able to move it into reverse. It didn't happen the rest of the day. I had my foot on the brake while I was trying to get the shifter out of park. Has any body experience this? If so what was the resolution?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
Could be torque lock. If you press against a parking block, or park pointing down (or up) hill, the weight of the car can hold the parking pawl locked into the parking gear.
Always set your parking brake before you put the car in park, and don't release the parking brake until you are out of park and in gear. If it happens again, try rocking the car while trying to get it out of park.
Could be the release interlock from the brake pedal, but if there's much load on the parking pawl at all, you get the torque lock deal going.
Always set your parking brake before you put the car in park, and don't release the parking brake until you are out of park and in gear. If it happens again, try rocking the car while trying to get it out of park.
Could be the release interlock from the brake pedal, but if there's much load on the parking pawl at all, you get the torque lock deal going.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
There is a mechanical cable that connects the ignition switch to the shifter and a holding solenoid. The solenoid is controlled by a signal from the brake pedal; brake applied= no power= no solenoid = shifting allowed. The key in run mode allows the cable to move out and the shifter to come out of park if the brake is pressed; the key cannot be removed unless the shifter is placed in park. Check for any loose wiring connectors; did you disconnect something and forget to reconnect it?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 18
From: Elko, Nevada
Doubtful. You can just simply remove the solenoid. You can then take car out of Park without having to depress the brake pedal. Its what I did. It seems to happen with big temp changes as well. The solenoid is located in the shifter housing and somewhat cumbersome to get to.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Draper, UT
Purerock105 thanks for your input. I did as you suggested and disconnected the solenoid. It was too difficult to remove the solenod so I just disconnected it from the shift linkage. Thanks again for the responses. As has been said before, the forum is a great source for help from a group of very knowledgeable people. Thanks!!
Last edited by CARMINEVETTE; Oct 24, 2008 at 09:59 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 18
From: Elko, Nevada
Purerock105 thanks for your input. I did as you suggested and disconnected the solenoid. It was too difficult to remove the solenod so I just disconnected it from the shift linkage. Thanks again for the responses. As has been said before, the forum is a great source for help from a group of very knowledgeable people. Thanks!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: Huntsville AL
Sounds like the problem I'm having- and a problem that seems to be getting more frequent at that. Is there a write-up somewhere on how to take the shifter housing apart to get to the solenoid in order to disconnect it?
am I understanding correctly that the cable that runs from the shifter up to the ignition area is only for the Ignition ON/Park interlock? Based on a different vehicle that I worked on previously I was assuming the "press brake" interlock would also be in that area but I guess I was assuming wrong.
thanks!
am I understanding correctly that the cable that runs from the shifter up to the ignition area is only for the Ignition ON/Park interlock? Based on a different vehicle that I worked on previously I was assuming the "press brake" interlock would also be in that area but I guess I was assuming wrong.
thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 18
From: Elko, Nevada
You have to start with the center console glovebox and work northward towards the trim that surrounds the shifter, which of course is one piece as it becomes the radio/HVAC bezel as well.
Once you get enough removed to see what you are looking at. The solenoid looks like this. Simply remove the wires connected to it and remove it.
Once you get enough removed to see what you are looking at. The solenoid looks like this. Simply remove the wires connected to it and remove it.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Van Wert Ohio
OK it's starting to cool off and my shifter is starting to take it's time coming out of "PARK". It got real tough last winter.
Is there a way to disconnect this solenoid at the "other end" of the wire in question to save taking the shifter boot out. My confidence level of getting it back together is low.....
Thanks in advance
Is there a way to disconnect this solenoid at the "other end" of the wire in question to save taking the shifter boot out. My confidence level of getting it back together is low.....
Thanks in advance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Don't remove the solenoid just disconnect the electrical connector
Had the same thing happen to me several times. I removed shift handle, loosened shift boot and saw the solenoid next to the shifter.
Simply UNPLUGGING the solenoid at the rear of the shift mechanism will do the trick. Been fixed for 2 years and its never going to lock out the shift lever again.
BIGHANK
Simply UNPLUGGING the solenoid at the rear of the shift mechanism will do the trick. Been fixed for 2 years and its never going to lock out the shift lever again.
BIGHANK
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Van Wert Ohio
Nevermind......dumb a$$ attack. I did another search and found the Vette Essentials web site on how to get the boot out, I should have thought of their site as I used it for my seats.
Next project!
Next project!
