Tran. Lock.Car not starting in "Park Position"

#1 12-08-2003, 10:09 AM

MY Tranny sometimes gets locked in park. And I need to push the button next to the shifter to take it out of park, and then, start the car in neutral. Can anybody explain what this is. Is this a sign of a tranny going bad, or some sort of electronic issue

Aredubjay · #2 12-08-2003, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul
MY Tranny sometimes gets locked in park. And I need to push the button next to the shifter to take it out of park, and then, start the car in neutral. Can anybody explain what this is. Is this a sign of a tranny going bad, or some sort of electronic issue

My guess is electronic (and, notice, I said "guess.). I would think that the neutral safety switch may be the culprit. It may be dirty, or totally inop. I don't have the diagram of the switch at my disposal, perhaps someone else does. Somebody help Paul out here.

#3 12-08-2003, 02:09 PM

Paul,

Can you start the car in Park?

My guess would be the shift lock control box. This box is located next to the e-brake under the center consel. My SVX would sometimes not unlock the shifter and sometimes would. I could wiggle the wires coming out of the shift lock controller and the shift lock would release.

The wires could be loose or the controller could be dead.

Just my 2 cents.

Aredubjay · #4 12-08-2003, 02:54 PM

Ah, found it. Check here for location of the Shift Lock Controller.

http://reaper450128.homeftp.net/pdfs...NT_LOCATOR.PDF

#5 12-08-2003, 05:27 PM

If you slap the side of the tunnel with your hand, that usually wakes up the inhibitor switch to release the lever out of park. I've gotten so used to the shift lock button (thank the Lord that Subaru put that in) that I don't really think about it anymore. A couple of times the car wouldn't start until I put it in neutral and back, that works. No tearing into the internals, and free too!

#6 12-09-2003, 12:02 AM

Randy,
Thanks for the PDF file!

Yes, I can start the car in park......most of the time. On occasion, 4 times since August, 2003, I turn the key and nothing happens.
Hit the black button to release the shifter -- then move back to park, and it fires right up. Or move to neutral and it fires right up.

Yes, this is kinda quirky, but I guess I can live with this as long as the car starts.

Thanks for the input!