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

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.

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.

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:

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 :D He is awesome!

Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
 

Isnt it a pisser in the morning when it's cold. After about 5 to 10 min, mine will eventually shift. Every 1995 camaro has either a bad Shift Lock Solenoid or a bad Coolant level sensor, or both :(

Re: A4 car won't shift out of park after sitting...not trans, it's the shifter
 

Yep. Gotta love our f-bodies :p Dont feel bad about the 95 my 98 has both too

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.

i love this forum...every problem i have ever had with my car has been addressed on this site...i wish I could find a site like this for my wife's minivan(93 chevy astro)

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.....)

My 1998 T/A does the same thing. I know its not the brake thing because I unhooked it. Anyone else have any fixes?

My question to this is can you do away with this? Car is track car only

Sure, just don't connect it.

Thanks shoebox one less thing for me to worry about:)

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.