My FWD '92 Legacy (auto trans.) recently developed a problem where you can't move the selector lever from "P" to any other position unless you press the shift-lock release button. From what I read it's a problem with the "Shift Lock System", but I can't find anything to do about it. It's doing it pretty much every time now. Until I can figure it out/get help/take it somewhere, can I continue to drive it using the release button, or am I destine to get stranded at the worst possible time? Any ideas how I can fix this?

Thanks

My FWD '92 Legacy (auto trans.) recently developed a problem where you can't move the selector lever from "P" to any other position unless you press the shift-lock release button. From what I read it's a problem with the "Shift Lock System", but I can't find anything to do about it. It's doing it pretty much every time now. Until I can figure it out/get help/take it somewhere, can I continue to drive it using the release button, or am I destine to get stranded at the worst possible time? Any ideas how I can fix this?

Thanks

 

there is a solenoid that activate when you step on the brake when the car is in park. it withdraws a pin which un-locks the shifter. mine is intermittent. i had it tied down with a rubber band for a while. but i am still a little scared of it.

 

if you remove the console around the shifter you will see the mechanism. my guess is that a used one would be a good bet, but i don't really know.

 

i also don't know what the cost new.

When you press the brake pedal and the gear selecter buttom you should hear a relay under the dash click, do you?

 

The solenoids sometimes get gummed up over the years from that coke that got spilled in there and no one owned up to

or it could be the beverage of coca cola that got spilled in there.

 

sounds like a good time to remove the shifter console trims, and see if you can clean the electrical thing ,maybe with some windex.

or it could be the beverage of coca cola that got spilled in there.

 

.

 

So your the one who spilled it?

When you press the brake pedal and the gear selecter buttom you should hear a relay under the dash click, do you?

 

 

Thanks, I'll check that out when I get home tonight.

When you press the brake pedal and the gear selecter buttom you should hear a relay under the dash click, do you?

 

The solenoids sometimes get gummed up over the years from that coke that got spilled in there and no one owned up to

 

Yes, I hear a click under the dash. I'll pull the trim around the selector this weekend and check it out.

Yup sounds like the solenoid quit or it is gummed up.

Today I pulled the console covers to see if the solenoid was gummed up (it seemed fine- not dirty at all).

Now when the selector is out of P, I can move it to the other positions without pressing the grip button. The only exception is that the button has to be pressed to go from N to R.

I did loosen the selector lever (two screws on side) so I could lift the indicator cover up a bit to see the solenoid better. When I did this the grip button came out. But I thought I got it back together correctly.

I know this is a stupid question, but the grip button needs to be pressed in order to be able to move the selector from say, D to N or 3,2,1 doesn't it? I never really tried to do so without pressing it, so I don't know if I screwed it up!

If I did, any suggestions about what to do? I REALLY need to get it back together today!

Thanks

I know this is a stupid question, but the grip button needs to be pressed in order to be able to move the selector from say, D to N or 3,2,1 doesn't it?

Thanks

 

When in doubt read the manual. Sorry for the lame post...

When in doubt read the manual. Sorry for the lame post...

 

 

D to N and to D no

revers to neutral to drive no

Neutral to reverse yes

Downshift yes

upshift no.