Rodent Damage “Brake Before Shift” message won’t go away
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
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Rodent Damage “Brake Before Shift” message won’t go away
I have a 2004 convertible with wiring damage that has been repaired by a Chevy dealer. A Brake Before Shift message still appears while driving. Do you have any idea how to attack this problem? The dealer has given up after $3800.00 in repairs.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
The "brake before shift" message only appears on automatic transmission equipped C5s so I'm immediately guessing you own an automatic car.
My immediate guess is that there is an issue with the interlock feature in the gear selector, possibly a "hang up" of sorts where the car believes it's constantly in Park but is actually not. There's really not a whole lot you can physically check unless you remove the console and check all the connections & bushings. One thing that would immediately throw up a red flag is if you can move the gear selector without depressing the button and/or with the car off.
My immediate guess is that there is an issue with the interlock feature in the gear selector, possibly a "hang up" of sorts where the car believes it's constantly in Park but is actually not. There's really not a whole lot you can physically check unless you remove the console and check all the connections & bushings. One thing that would immediately throw up a red flag is if you can move the gear selector without depressing the button and/or with the car off.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Rodent damage was to the wiring
I suspect something electrical as the problem. Repairs to date have been electrical, except that the shifter cable has been replaced. The tech says he has double checked the shift mechanism. I have a gut feeling that there is another wire cut somewhere. Maybe a ground?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
I don't think a ground would necessarily be the first thing to check, but if you want to check it out the ground for the entire system for the auto lockout is G202. G202's location is under the passenger side A Pillar under the kick-panel where the door mounts. The setup receives hot power when the key is turned to "on", traveling through the neutral position switch, the stop lamp switch, and finally to the shift lock solenoid, whereas it further goes to splice pack SP202 and also G202.
Again, I would make a possibly ignorant assumption that if the system wasn't grounded properly it would not be working at all. With it simply being a DIC message anomaly it possibly points to something more mechanical such as the solenoid not functioning properly or believing you're still in 'park'. You can adjust the transmission solenoid by hand (commonly done if it prevents the car from being shifted out of 'park').
Again, I would make a possibly ignorant assumption that if the system wasn't grounded properly it would not be working at all. With it simply being a DIC message anomaly it possibly points to something more mechanical such as the solenoid not functioning properly or believing you're still in 'park'. You can adjust the transmission solenoid by hand (commonly done if it prevents the car from being shifted out of 'park').
