Stuck in park abs and solid ! light - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

T12121 · 10-12-2008, 02:44 PM

Car stuck in park. No brake lights. Abs light turns on while engine is running. Wont go outta park even with the engine not running key position 1. Went back to working but I had it towed anyway I dont wanna get stuck anywhere. Anyone have this happen before? ideas, guesses? just curious at this point!

**JPaul** · 10-12-2008, 03:51 PM

Happened to several. Here are two helpers, one to get going again, the other to prevent it from happening again. Good luck, and many smiling miles.
Shifter stuck in park - Here's the get me home fix.
DIY gear shift removal and lube (short video)

a2jack · 10-12-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T12121

Car stuck in park. No brake lights. Abs light turns on while engine is running. Wont go outta park even with the engine not running key position 1. Went back to working but I had it towed anyway I dont wanna get stuck anywhere. Anyone have this happen before? ideas, guesses? just curious at this point!

You have a stop light switch failure. Had one , been there, and did this is what we did.

1. Wife Unlocked shifter by releasing yellow lever under edge of shifter box. (see Sticky at top of this forum).

2. Drove to dealer ( center stop light still worked) or could have had dealer truck it in.

All the symptoms were as you noted in your post.

What is your build date? How many miles. A2Jack.

T12121 · 10-12-2008, 04:06 PM

not sure on the build date due to car is not here. I have 500 miles on it. Picked up car on Oct 1st.

smartHHO · 10-12-2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T12121

not sure on the build date due to car is not here. I have 500 miles on it. Picked up car on Oct 1st.

If you have the car still in your hands, go open the driver door and look at the sticker. It will have build month and year on it.

T12121 · 10-12-2008, 07:40 PM

I dont have it on my hands. At tow yard going to dealership tomorrow.

T12121 · 10-13-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a2jack

You have a stop light switch failure.

Good call thats what it was!

a2jack · 10-14-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T12121

Good call thats what it was!

When you get a moment look inside the drivers door post and note your car's build date. Please post it here. Thanks, A2Jack.

Old SGM · 10-14-2008, 06:16 PM

I had the same problem at 800 miles, with mine and a couple of others, the culprit was someone at the factory installed the wrong fuse. Dealer replaced fuse and now the car has 4000+ miles on it without that problem reoccuring.
Just in case, I used a Drimmel and cut a small hole in the shift cover right over the little yellow level, then I put a rubber grommet in the hole, it looks like it came that way. Now if it ever locks in park again, I just pop the rubber grommet out, and there is the little yellow lever easy to get to.
Make sure the dealer checks all the fuses on the back side of the fuse panel. I believe Smart put a bulletin out on it. If it is not the fuse, then in all probability it is the brake light switch.

T12121 · 10-15-2008, 06:53 AM

The only thing I saw that looked like a date on the inside of the door was 9/08.