A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
10-08-2006, 05:32 PM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Elburn, IL
Posts: 186
A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
Hey guys,
I have a 95 Z28, A4 car. When the car has been sitting for more than a couple hours it will not shift out of park when I press the brake. It isn't a trans issue, it's the shifter itself. I cannot get the button to depress without beating on it and wiggling it.
Is there something I can do to adjust/fix this? It's really annoying, especially 1st thing in the morning.
Let me know.
Thanks,
Eric
I have a 95 Z28, A4 car. When the car has been sitting for more than a couple hours it will not shift out of park when I press the brake. It isn't a trans issue, it's the shifter itself. I cannot get the button to depress without beating on it and wiggling it.
Is there something I can do to adjust/fix this? It's really annoying, especially 1st thing in the morning.
Let me know.
Thanks,
Eric
10-08-2006, 06:00 PM
#2
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bentonville, AR
Posts: 1,451
Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
I don't know the name of the part, but it sounds like its somewhere in the system that requires you have the brake depressed to remove the transmission from park.
10-08-2006, 06:03 PM
#3
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Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Little Rock, AR
Posts: 27,708
Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
Try disconnecting the electrical connector to the brake/trans interlock solenoid (under the shift quadrant indicator) to see if it is not disengaging and holding you up.
10-08-2006, 06:05 PM
#4
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bentonville, AR
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Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
Here is Shoebox's reply from when I asked a similar question years ago for my 1995 Z28:
Originally Posted by shoebox
Could be that the BTSI (Brake Transmission Shift Interlock) solenoid is acting up. Try unplugging the electrical connector to it and see what happens. It is the black thing on the left in this pic, under the shifter plate. When unplugged, you will be able to shift out of park at any time when the key is ON, so beware.
10-09-2006, 07:05 AM
#5
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,460
Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
I have the same problem. In fact I posted last week. If you let the car warm up about 10 minutes it will be ok. It is irritating when it does it. I was hitting on mine and BROKE my fingernail OFF, not just the tip, the whole thing. Anyway shoebox has a fix for it 
He is awesome!
He is awesome!
10-09-2006, 08:17 PM
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Newport News VA
Posts: 72
Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
Originally Posted by Lt1 and Ls1
I have the same problem. In fact I posted last week. If you let the car warm up about 10 minutes it will be ok. It is irritating when it does it. I was hitting on mine and BROKE my fingernail OFF, not just the tip, the whole thing. Anyway shoebox has a fix for it He is awesome!
He is awesome!
Dont feel bad about the 95 my 98 has both too
10-18-2006, 08:59 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Ashburn, VA
Posts: 4
Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
Have the same problem only when the weather is cold and found and easy way to get it to shift. Pull out the ash tray and you will the shaft going to the BTSI solenoid it has a black plastic cover on it. ( see pic in post 4 of this thread) Pull up on that shaft with your finger while pushing the button on the shifter. Works every time for me.
11-17-2007, 10:49 AM
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 430
my 95 T/A was doing the same thing a few weeks ago, but since the trans rebuild its been fine. i wonder ifi t was loose or something and was adjusted correctly during the trans rebuild (no this is not why i had the trans rebuilt, lol.....)
06-26-2009, 01:04 AM
#15
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Deerfield Beach FL
Posts: 92
I'm having the exact same problem with my 95Z. I disconnected the BTSI solenoid and now there are no problems. Does anyone know how much it would cost to replace this part? If it's really not necessary, or if it wont set a SES code, I'll probably just leave it disconnected.
Last edited by Expense95; 06-26-2009 at 07:53 PM.
