Difficulty shifting A4 out of park
#1
Difficulty shifting A4 out of park
Sometimes in the morning my transmission is very difficult to shift out of park. Once it does it is easy every time after that. The strange thing is that it does it when it is cold outside. Any help or info is greatly appreciated. Also the trans was rebuilt a few months ago but it did this before the rebuild too. Thanks,
Jay
Jay
#2
I'm having the same situation occur with my car. My trans was rebuilt about 7 months ago and I have the same issue you have on cold mornings. Hopefully someone will chime in.
#3
TECH Apprentice
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Are you on a hill? The manual says that if your car is on a hill it can sometimes be hard to get out of park because there is more stress on the transmission. try putting up the ebrake and/or pushing the break in further, thats what works for me.
#5
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Could be a cable adjustment, if the problem isn't in the shifter itself. But since several other people are complaining about the same problem, I'd say the cable is out of adjustment, and putting too much pressure on the shifter assembly. That's binding the shift lock button and making it hard to move out of park. If that's the problem, you should address it right away since it could also be preventing the manual valve in the transmission from indexing properly.
#6
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There's also the electrical "lockout" that wants you to
have the brake depressed? Maybe this switch is getting
a bit old & crusty, or the solenoid/cable that actuates
the release of that lockout needs some greasy love?
have the brake depressed? Maybe this switch is getting
a bit old & crusty, or the solenoid/cable that actuates
the release of that lockout needs some greasy love?
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#8
On The Tree
quick fix
This happens because your brake solenoid is taking a crap. You can order a new one from a local dealership for under $50. In the meantime, you can do the following: remove the upper counsel, disconnect the solenoid on the driver's side (there are 2). Some have 2, some have 3 wires leading to them, depending on the year. Unplug it for now until you feel like replacing it, but be careful, your car will now shift out of park without your foot on the brake. Mine's been unplugged for a few weeks now, $50 goes a far way at Christmas.
David
98Z A4 Hardtop
LS6 Cam, Pullies, Dynomouth, MAFT
David
98Z A4 Hardtop
LS6 Cam, Pullies, Dynomouth, MAFT
#10
Pontiacerator
iTrader: (12)
Thanks, David - but what do you mean by "upper counsel?" Console? I could do a search, but where is it, and how do you remove it? As far as shifting out of park with the foot off the brake, well, my 69 GTO does that, and it is fine - in fact, since the neutral safety switch is toast, it will start in any gear. Can be exciting at times.
#11
On The Tree
yikes, did I write that? must have been a brain fart. Yes, its the upper "console", lol. It's the portion directly under your a/c controls. There are two 7mm bolts holding it down under the storage compartment between the driver and passenger seats. Unbolt these, slide the gear selector into D or 3rd, and pull the cover off and back. You'll have to disconnect a tiny bulb for the gear indicator, and the lighter up front. Hope this helps.
David
98Z A4 Hardtop
LS6 Cam, Pullies, Dynomouth, MAFT
David
98Z A4 Hardtop
LS6 Cam, Pullies, Dynomouth, MAFT