Won't shift????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: AZ/OK
Won't shift????
I'm sure this has been discussed but I couldn't find a thread that did so here goes??? I have a 2008 automatic and some times the shifter will not move at all. I'm well aware of the actuator squeeze in the front of the shifter being required to be depressed in order to shift (along with the brake pedal being depressed) but there are times it simply will not depress and shift? I've shut the car off and tried again and it always comes around and works in time but it's quite annoying to need to go and not be able to. Yesterday, my wife hit the brake pedal a couple times and she heard something in the console click then it worked just fine. Is this typical and is there a fix for this? Thanks in advance for any help.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,918
Likes: 2,328
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
If you’re talking about not being able to shift out of Park, there are numerous threads on this. It’s a problem with the micro switch that’s supposed to sense when you shift into park so that when you next go to shift out of park, the interlock solenoid will release when you step on the brake and allow you do do that. Its usually a problem with the micro switch and not the solenoid.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 603
From: Minneapolis Mn
If you’re talking about not being able to shift out of Park, there are numerous threads on this. It’s a problem with the micro switch that’s supposed to sense when you shift into park so that when you next go to shift out of park, the interlock solenoid will release when you step on the brake and allow you do do that. Its usually a problem with the micro switch and not the solenoid.
If you want to try something I found out too late to test myself: try putting the car in accessory mode and see if it comes out of park easily. Theoretically you could do that to get to neutral then start it, kind of a delaying method if you're on the fence on what to do.
Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 299
Likes: 105
From: Dothan, AL
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...use-found.html
Here's an explanation of why it happens and possible solutions.
Here's an explanation of why it happens and possible solutions.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 21
From: Roanoke and Fieldale VA
I have a 2008 with the auto transmission and this has started happening to me. Can the micro switch(s) be replaced or does it require replacing the entire shifter assembly? I'm not able to do the repair myself, so any idea what the dealer will charge to do this repair?
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,918
Likes: 2,328
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
I have a 2008 with the auto transmission and this has started happening to me. Can the micro switch(s) be replaced or does it require replacing the entire shifter assembly? I'm not able to do the repair myself, so any idea what the dealer will charge to do this repair?
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
And Happy New Year as well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,224
Likes: 497
From: NJ
You can buy the same or better micro-switches online for about $6.50 or less. Not a hard job to replace. But soldering is required. As a fail-safe, many owners attach a drawstring to manually release the parking pawl and run it into the center console. This works when the switch fails to make contact. This is not an alignment or travel issue with the switch. The problem is the contacts on the switch build up carbon and no longer make contact. Why they get carbon build-up is because when the switch is opened the collapsing field (reverse EMF) of the solenoid jumps across the switch contacts. The arcing is what causes the carbon build-up on the contacts.
Someone here, can't remember who but he is an EE, suggests placing a diode across the solenoid to prevent this from happening. Even though the switch is replaced the arcing problem will still exist. So it's just a matter of time before the problem comes back. Hence the drawstring addition. Some people even do away with this safety feature (locking park mechanism) completely, but I do not recommend bypassing a safety feature.
I wonder how GM corrected this problem in later years or if it was even addressed...
Someone here, can't remember who but he is an EE, suggests placing a diode across the solenoid to prevent this from happening. Even though the switch is replaced the arcing problem will still exist. So it's just a matter of time before the problem comes back. Hence the drawstring addition. Some people even do away with this safety feature (locking park mechanism) completely, but I do not recommend bypassing a safety feature.
I wonder how GM corrected this problem in later years or if it was even addressed...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 21
From: Roanoke and Fieldale VA
If I'm correct, what needs to be replaced is the automatic shifter harness located in the center console? I always like to know or "pretend" I know what I'm talking about when I go to the dealer for service 
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,918
Likes: 2,328
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
Essentially, you are correct. But, that harness is an aftermarket assembly, and not a part that you could purchase at the dealer. They won’t be able to find it on their parts diagram. What they would want is to do what they know how to do, and charge a diagnostic fee to determine what the problem is, and then replace the entire shifter assembly, assuming that they could still get a new one. I suppose you could just tell them to replace the shifter and skip the diagnostic. If you show up with the harness in hand and ask them to replace just the harness, I can’t predict what they will say to that because they likely won’t have any experience in doing that and won’t know how much labor will be involved. If they will do work based on time and materials, then maybe they would work on it. It varies by dealer. I’ve got 30 years of history of buying cars and service with a local Chevy dealer and their work is very good, but from experience they wouldn’t touch a job like that. There’s a dealer about an hour’s drive from me who sponsors our club, and they have done custom work for me. If you’re determined to take it to a dealer then all you can do is ask.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 21
From: Roanoke and Fieldale VA
Essentially, you are correct. But, that harness is an aftermarket assembly, and not a part that you could purchase at the dealer. They won’t be able to find it on their parts diagram. What they would want is to do what they know how to do, and charge a diagnostic fee to determine what the problem is, and then replace the entire shifter assembly, assuming that they could still get a new one. I suppose you could just tell them to replace the shifter and skip the diagnostic. If you show up with the harness in hand and ask them to replace just the harness, I can’t predict what they will say to that because they likely won’t have any experience in doing that and won’t know how much labor will be involved. If they will do work based on time and materials, then maybe they would work on it. It varies by dealer. I’ve got 30 years of history of buying cars and service with a local Chevy dealer and their work is very good, but from experience they wouldn’t touch a job like that. There’s a dealer about an hour’s drive from me who sponsors our club, and they have done custom work for me. If you’re determined to take it to a dealer then all you can do is ask.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 21
From: Roanoke and Fieldale VA
Essentially, you are correct. But, that harness is an aftermarket assembly, and not a part that you could purchase at the dealer. They won’t be able to find it on their parts diagram. What they would want is to do what they know how to do, and charge a diagnostic fee to determine what the problem is, and then replace the entire shifter assembly, assuming that they could still get a new one. I suppose you could just tell them to replace the shifter and skip the diagnostic. If you show up with the harness in hand and ask them to replace just the harness, I can’t predict what they will say to that because they likely won’t have any experience in doing that and won’t know how much labor will be involved. If they will do work based on time and materials, then maybe they would work on it. It varies by dealer. I’ve got 30 years of history of buying cars and service with a local Chevy dealer and their work is very good, but from experience they wouldn’t touch a job like that. There’s a dealer about an hour’s drive from me who sponsors our club, and they have done custom work for me. If you’re determined to take it to a dealer then all you can do is ask.