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HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic


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stb100
User

Dec 8, 2010, 8:02 AM

Post #1 of 8 (3137 views)
HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

Hi,

Thanks in advance for any help.
Our '96 Saturn SL1 4dr automatic (1.9L?; 4Cyl; 137k) can be nearly impossible to shift into gear from park. VERY hard to press button on shifter. With patience, sometimes using both hands, it works. But my kid --main driver -- has been nearly unable to do so. Other times -- no problem -- most of the time actually.
What is the cause, how hard to fix, how costly...?

THANKS! --- SteveInVA


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 8, 2010, 8:43 AM

Post #2 of 8 (3130 views)
Re: HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

There are 2 different things that could be happening here. It could be the shift interlock system actually locking you out because of a brake light problem or other issue in the circuit. If this were the case, I would be surprised if you could shift it at all. The other possibility is that there is just lack of lubrication inside the shifter handle. The handle should be removable to examine for this issue.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



stb100
User

Dec 8, 2010, 9:50 AM

Post #3 of 8 (3125 views)
Re: HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

Thanks. I can shift from P to whatever easily, most of the time. Sometimes it's mildly hard to press the button and shift. Less so (but more often of late) it's REAL hard to do.

Is there a fail-safe way to override...I read somewhere a screwdriver can be used to "unlock" it.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 8, 2010, 9:56 AM

Post #4 of 8 (3123 views)
Re: HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

Many cars have a shift interlock over ride slot near the shifter that you can insert a key or screwdriver in to unlock the shift interlock but that's all it does so it the problem is not electric, it won't help.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



stb100
User

Dec 8, 2010, 12:49 PM

Post #5 of 8 (3118 views)
Re: HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

THANKS for your help...OK. Took off the center console. Got a good look at shifter mechanism and solenoid(?) that kicks in when in Park. Ran shifter thru all positions with key off and on. W/key on, solenoid kicked in -- is that correct? Could not tell exactly where the problem was tho that seemed to be it. Gave all a good shot of WD40. Seemed to work better after. Shot some contact cleaner on connection...Will give it a few moments to see if still working...


stb100
User

Dec 8, 2010, 2:47 PM

Post #6 of 8 (3110 views)
Re: HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

Couldn't find the override you mentioned. Lubed all parts and put back together. Disconnected wire to BTSI- (brake transmission shift interlock) at first. Shifts easily. Got cold feet about leaving unhooked and reconnected wire. Works pretty OK as long as brake pushed down hard before shift.

THANKS


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 8, 2010, 2:50 PM

Post #7 of 8 (3108 views)
Re: HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

You'd better check and see what your brakes lights are doing so you will know if that switch is bad or not.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



stb100
User

Dec 8, 2010, 3:19 PM

Post #8 of 8 (3102 views)
Re: HARD To Shift Outta Park -'96 Saturn SL1 Automatic Sign In

Thanks. They work. Did find i have a bad bulb on right side though. THANKS!! Beats getting a tkt.






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