Stuck in Park "P" - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

bradgarbus · 02-28-2009, 07:22 AM

Has anyone heard of this?

Yesterday I was stuck in park and tried everything I could, I have nearly 3000 miles on it now.... I had to call the Smart USA to rescue me....

I waiting almost 45 minutes, but the tow truck driver was very familiar with the smarts, says he has towed several for the gear shifter issue, but states that many times the symptoms are the same as a problem that is common with BMW and Mercedes - because these cars have electronic breaks the "switch" gets stuck, and that doesn't allow the gear shifter to move out of the park "P" position.

He hopped into my smart, stomped on the break peddle about 3 times, and reached over to the gear shifter and it moved freely - like normal.

I was stunned. I thought for sure it was the gear shifter in need of lubrication.

I called the dealer to play it safe. They have never heard of this before so they want me to bring it in to check everything on it. The tow truck driver also said that it seemed to be idling a bit rough (I personally wonder if the slight vibration is normal?)....

Anyway - that's my story. Has anyone else heard about this???

smartHHO · 02-28-2009, 07:27 AM

Well good luck, I have never had the problem just yet. I have 1600 on mine and nothing that bad at all for shifting. Grant it my throttle body was replaced and ever since she has run fine. Maybe you just have a loose switch on the pedal or something.

bradgarbus · 02-28-2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartHHO

Well good luck, I have never had the problem just yet. I have 1600 on mine and nothing that bad at all for shifting. Grant it my throttle body was replaced and ever since she has run fine. Maybe you just have a loose switch on the pedal or something.

That is what I am hoping. I am driving it now, everything seems fine. I will take it in next week during a lunch hour and let them check it over.

The tow truck guy was insistent that this is common with new cars that have the electronic breaking - not limited to our brand or makes...

This is one reason I am posting it here to see if anyone had heard of this?

SuperGeek · 02-28-2009, 08:14 AM

I must have missed a memo... what part of our braking system is electronic? Brake lights, sure... power assist is hydraulic, isn't it? Now, power steering is electric. And I know we have hill start assist which somehow applies the brakes through what I'm guessing is a computer command.

bradgarbus · 02-28-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

I must have missed a memo... what part of our braking system is electronic? Brake lights, sure... power assist is hydraulic, isn't it? Now, power steering is electric. And I know we have hill start assist which somehow applies the brakes through what I'm guessing is a computer command.

Not sure. He insisted that the switch that was in the break system was stuck.

Not to mention - what he did FIXED IT...

I would be skeptical too, but the results were clear. I watched him carefully - I don't allow anyone in the driver seat of my smart...

Something was stuck - the stomps fixed it.... you tell me...

mfoster · 02-28-2009, 08:38 AM

There is a switch that definitely works in conjunction with the brakes, whether it is the switch for the brake light or another separate switch.

The switch allows the movement in and out of park but it also controls the engagement/disengagement of the pressure plate.

Duckhunter · 02-28-2009, 08:40 AM

There is a brake interlock to prevent shifting from park without brakes applied. Bad brake switch or intermittant switch or not putting your foot on the brake pedal and the car will not shift from park. Design feature, I also think government mandate. This may also be part of stuck shifters issue.

bradgarbus · 02-28-2009, 08:46 AM

My concern is - a lot of the dealers are throwing some grease on the shifter and calling it done when this "switch" is the real culprit in some cases... With that being said - I wonder if something that is done in the process of greasing up the shifter takes care of this switch being stuck?

I do tend to be light on the break. I have never hit the breaks as hard as he did 3 times in a row...

All this is interesting. I just wanted to get the collective think tank working on this. It could be a possible plan B solution to the stuck shifter issue.... (maybe?)

smark · 02-28-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckhunter

There is a brake interlock to prevent shifting from park without brakes applied. Bad brake switch or intermittant switch or not putting your foot on the brake pedal and the car will not shift from park. Design feature, I also think government mandate. This may also be part of stuck shifters issue.

Correct, brake interlock switches are on all cars. Anyone remember the issue with Audi's I think back the 80's.

**jwight** · 02-28-2009, 09:19 AM

Somewhere on the forums is another "stuck in Park" thread where the bad brake switch was the cause.