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.

Just a thought for those that disconnected the solenoid and still having probs. I had a hard time getting mine to shift from park and I also have had extremely hard second gear shifts for some time. I ordered a new trans mount and just replaced it today. When I got under the car, I was surprised to see a poly bushing in there! Replaced it and not only does it shift much better, it goes from P to D much better now. What I figured was that the poly bushing sits a little lower in profile than the new one. I had to jack up the trans to get the brace bolted up. I think that the trans is sagging a little making it hard to shift from Park. Maybe I am off, but it fixed my problems for sure.

Jim

It won't cause a trouble code. It's not connected to the computer. It is there as a safety feature to keep the shift lever from being moved out of gear unless someone intends to drive the car.

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

I was able to loosen the console plate over the shifter just a couple inches, it seems to be hung up on the front part of the plate. I was able to lift up the ashtray some and saw the exact thing as the picture in the 4th post of this thread. Where is the plug-in that you unplug. Is it in that picture on the fourth post?
Thanks, my cars been sitting for over a year with this problem.:mad:

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

Thanks for the info guys....I just spent 10 mins trying to get my '95 Z outa park. I will try that removing ashtray & lifting cable tomorrow & see if it works.:)

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

Worked like a charm. I just lifted ashtray out, touched that black cable thing & the shift button went right in. Thanks guys!:)
Shoebox...your site rocks!

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

Always nice to have a little success now and then. :)