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?)
Brad,
Two different issues.
The grease thing is to lubricate the button on the shift lever (its internal cam) and the top of the vertical plunger that the cam actuates. There is very little bearing surface between them to spread the load so the lubrication doesn't last forever.
The brake switch (under the driver's footwell, not near the shifter) does in fact have a function in getting the transmission out of "Park." It can fail mechanically, or fail due to water ingress with the same result. Or in this case, you may have discovered that it may merely get stuck.
I'm going to add the "foot-stomp" technique to my deck of on-board casualty control cards.
The grease thing is to lubricate the button on the shift lever (its internal cam) and the top of the vertical plunger that the cam actuates. There is very little bearing surface between them to spread the load so the lubrication doesn't last forever.
The brake switch (under the driver's footwell, not near the shifter) does in fact have a function in getting the transmission out of "Park." It can fail mechanically, or fail due to water ingress with the same result. Or in this case, you may have discovered that it may merely get stuck.
I'm going to add the "foot-stomp" technique to my deck of on-board casualty control cards.
Thanks Old Smart.
I bet a lot of folks are getting towed out there blaming it on the shifter, but it's really just the sticky switch. The symptoms I experienced were right on and even the 1-800-SmartUSA person thought the same thing...
I think this would be a good one to keep in the deck...
When my shifter button got stuck, I didn't call the dealer, I didn't call Penske, I didn't stomp the brake pedal, and I didn't disassemble the shifter housing to apply more grease. I sprayed lots of WD-40 into the space around the opening for the button on the gearshift knob, wiped off the excess from the surfaces, and continued happily on my way. Dumb luck? It worked for me. My shifter button is still operating freely for me 3,000 miles later.
My philosophy of mechanical life is simple. If it's stuck and should be loose, I WD-40 it. If it's loose and should be stuck, I Duct Tape it. If it ain't broke, I don't fix it.
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.
More then likely, it is just an interlock. You must step on the brake before changing the Park to drive and what not. All new cars have it. You can look under or around the brake and there is a switch. My Kia had one near the top of the arm just before the firewall. If break is not engauged, it does not let you move the lever. Same thing with key removal. If car is not in P, you can not remove the key.
When my shifter button got stuck, I didn't call the dealer, I didn't call Penske, I didn't stomp the brake pedal, and I didn't disassemble the shifter housing to apply more grease. I sprayed lots of WD-40 into the space around the opening for the button on the gearshift knob, wiped off the excess from the surfaces, and continued happily on my way. Dumb luck? It worked for me. My shifter button is still operating freely for me 3,000 miles later.
My philosophy of mechanical life is simple. If it's stuck and should be loose, I WD-40 it. If it's loose and should be stuck, I Duct Tape it. If it ain't broke, I don't fix it.
MrJack
Mine was not the button. It moved easily. The shifter was simply stuck.
More then likely, it is just an interlock. You must step on the brake before changing the Park to drive and what not. All new cars have it. You can look under or around the brake and there is a switch. My Kia had one near the top of the arm just before the firewall. If break is not engauged, it does not let you move the lever. Same thing with key removal. If car is not in P, you can not remove the key.
I believe that is what the tow truck guy was referring to when he talked about "the switch"...
We experienced the same or a similar issue- and the car would not start or shift out of what was theoretically "park". Fortunately our dealership rep knew the "trick" to fix it:
Evidently the engine has a chip that looks to see if the car is truly in park before you can start up or even move the shifter. Our dash read "D" instead of the normal "P" when the shifter was in the park position- thus the no start and no shifting situation.
Turn the key to on (not full over in start) and step on the brake for 30-40 seconds. The dash display will change to "P"- and the car should start and operate normally.
Still lovin the Smart in spite of this 1 glitch- 1400 miles later a OK so far.
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