First Post. Glad you're here

 

Just changed the alternator in my 91 Legacy. Was in a rush because it was snowing, I was late for work, and I needed the AWD. So I switched the alternator and jumped the battery. When I got to the end of my steep driveway, the engine turned off. I couldn't get my other vehicle up the driveway. so I pressed the shift lock button on the auto trans and rolled it back down the driveway in reverse. When I got down there, I noticed that:

1) I hadn't hooked up the electrical pigtail to the alternator and, more importantly

2) The ignition would not turn out of 'Lock'

 

After I connected the electrics to the alternator, I tried locking the wheel, rolling the car, jumping the car again, pressing the brake (owners manual suggestion) and sliding the shifter from gear to gear.

Nothing. Any idea of how to get this thing out of lock. Right now its parked in the middle of the driveway, almost sideways, blocking another car and access to my garage.

 

Thanks

Shamus

put it in park. Wiggle wheel wildly while turning key. Stepping on the brake helps some cars. Not sure about subies.

I've been doing that. I've got a blister on my thumb. The only thing I can think of is that either the keys are worn, or that because the battery drained without the alternator hooked up, something got screwed up with the computer system.

There is an electric brake switch interlock to prevent shifting out of park, but I can't see how it's related to the ignition lock. I don't think there are any computer issues either.

 

Probably right about the worn key or maybe something in the ignition switch or locking mechanism that's worn. You said you tried locking the steering wheel. Is it locked or does it turn?

 

Wiggle the wheel like cookie said while gently pulling and pushing in the key and see if that helps.

 

You may wind up having to take the cover off the steering column to look for problems.

Originally, the steering wheel was loose. I locked the wheel thinking that that would then trigger the key to move.

Fixed the problem. The shift lever was not totally engaged in PARK. Shift linkage must have unalligned when I rolled the car down the driveway through the snow.

 

 

If this problem happens to you:

 

Push on the shifter with your boot as hard as you can, holler obscenities till the neighbors come out, then turn the key. Should work like a charm.

Shaymar,

 

How did you align the shift mechanism so the problem would not re-appear??

 

Did brute force further misalign the shift mechanism?