Shifter won't move from Park
 

Anyone knows what could cause this?

Now that's a first :eek: :eek:

your solenoid (C i think...) has gone bad. It's a pretty common problem. Mine locks up every once in a while, press the "Shift Lock" button.

How come I never read about that? :confused:

Please don't take this question the wrong way . . .

Is your foot firmly pressing on the brake pedal before you try to move the shift lever out of Park?

Solenoid C wouldn't be involved with this situation.

Is your battery dead?

dcb

oops, wrong solenoid letter, I don't remember which one it is, but I asked about this once and was told that one of my solenoids was loose or something of that nature. Mine will lock up every once in a while, I just push the shift lock button and don't worry about it.

I thought it was A. Thats the one that is on the tranny harness. Check the harness as well for loose connections (by the firewall). What year is your car? If it is 94+, you'll need a screwdriver to move it out of park. Normally moving back and forth between P and D a few times will kick it back in.

At the risk of sounding stupid, what is the shift lock button yall referring to?

shift lock is a little button on the 92/3 models right in the shifter's base. It's labeled. On the 94+ models, it's not labeled, and you'll have to pop out the cover with a flat head screwdriver and shove a long small rod (like 6") down to unlock the park.

Let me find a picture for you.

Cool, I see it. So to fix the problem permanently, I guess I'd have to replace the solenoid. Do you know where it is located, and can I use any generic 12V solenoid or do I have to order one specifically from Subaru?

There's no A, B or C...it's the Shift lock solenoid and it's activated when you press the brake with the key on.

Here are 2 pics of shift locks on the SVXes

I can hear sort of a relay click when I press the brake pedal, but the shifter still won't disengage. I does however if I use the shift lock button.

I've been having this issue for months but never bothered to post about it. I'm guessing mine is loose from when i got my new tranny (which is already f-ed up) I've wondered about that butt6on before, i always thought it would lock the tranny so it couldn't be shifted (like a kid proof type thing) it really should be the 'tranny unlock button" :)

So do i press it and just shift and drive on or do i need to press the button again?

yay and i thought the only temp fix was starting the car holding my breath and telling my car "good girl" when it shifts and revving it and saying "come on girl" till it shifts.