Stuck in Park !!

2001 VR6.. sometimes difficult to get out of PARK... something about the break I think.. should step on the break which releases the PARK.. but sometimes it's very difficult to get it out of park.. is this a switch adjustment? If so,can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

Scott

Reply to
Scott C
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Are you parking on a hill without using the parking brake?

-- Mike Smith

Reply to
Mike Smith

No level ground.. would the parking break have an effect on the transmission not wanting to shift out of PARK?

sc

Reply to
Scott C

2 most common things I see cause this problem.... failing brake ligth switch and user error.

The brake light switch is pretty easy to figure out. Notice that when the ignition is turned on, there is light beside the shifter that lights up yellow. Now when you step on the brake, it should turn off, you might be able to hear the *clunk* as the magnet pulls the pin out, and then of course you can pull the shifter into gear. If the switch is bad, when you step on the brake, the yellow light will stay on (and of course your brake lights won't be working). The fix is getting the updated switch.

The user error problem occurs when the user tries to pull the shifter out of park before the magnet has pulled the pin back, thus wedging the pin into place even though the foot is not on the brake. When they wiggle the shifter, they are giving the pin a chance to be pulled back and of course it comes out of park. The fix is to step on the brake before you grab the shifter.

Reply to
Pencilneck

Great inputs.. thanks

sc

Reply to
Scott C

transmission not wanting to shift out of PARK?

Only in that if you were on a hill and you parked the car with the weight of it resting on the transmission and either didn't set the parking brake at all or you set the parking brake after the car's weight rested on the transmission.

As a rule I put my automatic into neutral, set the parking brake first and ensure the brake has the car secured, *then* I shift into park. This way the car isn't in park with any force acting on it.

Reply to
Matt B.

Maybe that makes sense most of the time, in most places. But lots of Canadians will tell you that you should NEVER set your hand brake in the winter, because once in a while the pads freeze to the drums, and then you are screwed. Lots of Canadians will tell you that, because they did it at least once. Sometimes you can free up the brakes by backing up, sometimes you wait for a thaw.

I drive manual and I park in first (or reverse). In the winter I'd find a flatter parking spot before I'd leave the hand brake on overnight. The hand brake is what you use while the car is idling in neutral and you are outside scraping the ice off the windows.

Reply to
Al Rudderham

If a flat parking space isn't available you can always turn your wheels towards the curb and let the curb stop you before putting the car in park.

Reply to
Baudolino

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