My '98 Impreza won't shift out of park. Pressing brake pedal does not disengage shift lock. Any ideas? Can I disable this function?

Yes there is a way to bypass it but you have to undo the center console ( see attached)

First you should check to see if your brake lights are working , if they are it maybe the neutral safety switch on the side of the transmission that is not working

 

 

 

 

SEA#3

shift lock bypass.doc

and if brake lights ARE working?.....then what?

Try the bypass as listed above. If that works, its an electrical problem keeping the shift lock engauged.

quote=steve22l]and if brake lights ARE working?.....then what?

 

 

There still could be a fault with the brake light switch .If it has cruise control it is a 4 pole switch, 2 poles for the brake lights, 2 poles for the shift lock . you will have to check for continuity,

 

if it doesn't have cruise .Then you will have to take a look at the neutral safety switch on the side of the trany, it may have an open circuit

 

SEA#3

ok...thanks for the replies. I'll check it out in the morning.

just checked the brake lights. They are NOT working, with key on, key off, and with engine running. Where would I start to look?

Check fuses first , then check to see if you have power at the brake light switch , if you have power at the switch , then it is probably the switch .

 

SEA#3

sorry, but I'm a carpenter....LOL...where is the brake light switch located? Thanks!

Just above the brake pedal ,under the dash . Should be a black switch . with 2 or 4 wires going into it depending if yo have cruise control or not

 

Hope this helps

 

SEA#3

SUCCESS! It was a blown fuse for the brake lights. Thanks to Sea and Imbew for the replies....you saved me a lot of headscratching

 

Thansk again!

Glad i could help , Just a question do you have a trailrer hitch on this car?

and were you towing a trailer when it happened ?

 

If so you mat have a short in you trailer that blew the fuse .

If you don't have a hitch then you will have a problem with the wiring on that circuit

 

SEA#3