Trouble shifting out of park!

[Holidazed]

For the past few months I have been having a problem with my truck shifting from out of park. I press the brake pedal down and hear a clock, but the shifter doesn’t always unlock so that I can change the gear. usually after 2 or 3 tries it would unlock (and sometimes would unlock on the first try) but lately its been taking 10-20 tries to get the shifter to unlock.

Now from the research I have done this could be one of 2 problems:

1) the shift lock solenoid on the shifter is going bad and needs to be replaced. I’ve already tried cleaning it and spraying it with WD/40 but that didn't help much. Dealer wants $130 for this part.

2) The sensor under the brake pedal is going bad and needs to be fixed or replaced.

Has anyone else had this problem? Surely I'm not the only one.

Please let me know how you fixed it and how much it cost...thanks!!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I read some time ago that someone else was having the same problem. It turned out that it was their shift lock solenoid. I think your problem is most likely the solenoid as well. I would suggest checking two things:

1. The shift lock solenoid sensor (it's really the ECU brake pedal sensor) is a plastic adjustable sensor at the brake pedal arm. Visually inspect it and make sure it hasn't somehow re-adjusted itself making it more diffiuclt to detect pedal movement. When you visually inspect, make sure you are checking the correct sensor, there should be two, one for the cruise control (ASCD) and the other for the shift lock solenoid. The shift lock solenoid sensor is higher up and more difficult to get to.

2. I would use a multimeter and meter the shift lock solenoid wires. If it shows a positive voltage every time you depress the brake pedal, then you have a bad solenoid.

At least if it's the solenoid you know how to access it and change it out so replacement should be really easy!

Also, it looks like a new shift lock solenoid will run $80 from CourtesyParts for your model.

[Holidazed]

Pwnin O'Brien: thanks for the info!

What does the shift lock solenoid sensor look like and where on the pedal arm should I be looking? do i need to take off the steering wheel/lower dash cover or can i see it by just sticking my head under the steering wheel/pedal area?

[stevebaz]

Look at your shifter.on the base of the shifter you will see a 1/4" square plastic plug on the top right side.Remove the plug and take a small shaft about 5" long.At the bottom of the hole is a small lever use the shaft to push down on it.While moving the shifter. This is the emergency release for the shifter. You must hold it down to shift.The shifter release solenoid is under the shifter cover where all the linkage is on the right side. I did not replace the solenoid. I did wire tie it up so it couldn't lock me out anymore.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Pwnin O'Brien: thanks for the info!

What does the shift lock solenoid sensor look like and where on the pedal arm should I be looking? do i need to take off the steering wheel/lower dash cover or can i see it by just sticking my head under the steering wheel/pedal area?

No you don't need to remove any trim panels to see it. You need to get on your back in the driver foot area and get as close to the brake pedal as possible, looking up so you can see the entire brake pedal lever. Looking up at it, there will be two sensors, the one closest to your head is for the cruise control and the further up sensor is the ECU brake sensor. Just visually inspect it while depressing the brake pedal with your hands. You will be able to see that the sensor is adjustable and it has a bunch of notches on it to adjust the location with respect to the brake pedal lever.

I doubt that this sensor adjustment is really your issue, but you never know, weirder things have happened.

Look at your shifter.on the base of the shifter you will see a 1/4" square plastic plug on the top right side.Remove the plug and take a small shaft about 5" long.At the bottom of the hole is a small lever use the shaft to push down on it.While moving the shifter. This is the emergency release for the shifter. You must hold it down to shift.The shifter release solenoid is under the shifter cover where all the linkage is on the right side. I did not replace the solenoid. I did wire tie it up so it couldn't lock me out anymore.

That's another option. If you don't mind not having the shift release solenoid inactive (which I don't see any problems with since you need to depress the shifter button to shift out of park anyhow) then I would probably recommend this option if the solenoid is bad.

[Holidazed]

Pwnin O'Brien: ok so I checked the two sensors under the brake pedal and those are fine. the bake lights always go on and the solenoid clicks everytime the brake pedal is pressed. So I have determined that the problem is somewhere in the shift lock solenoid or something connecrted to it near the shifter.

Is it possible to take out the solenoid (mine is a small blue box) and open it up to clean or inspect the contacts? I have been tring to find a picture or digram of the inside of the solenoid but havent been able to on google. Please le me know where to go from here, thanks!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Pwnin O'Brien: ok so I checked the two sensors under the brake pedal and those are fine. the bake lights always go on and the solenoid clicks everytime the brake pedal is pressed. So I have determined that the problem is somewhere in the shift lock solenoid or something connecrted to it near the shifter.

Is it possible to take out the solenoid (mine is a small blue box) and open it up to clean or inspect the contacts? I have been tring to find a picture or digram of the inside of the solenoid but havent been able to on google. Please le me know where to go from here, thanks!

Well if you can get the shift lock solenoid out of the vehicle I'm sure you can take it apart and see if it can be repaired. I'm not sure how to remove it or how to open it up tho.

You wont be able to find any sort of internal wiring diagram or anything of the sort, but I'm positive that the internals are probably fairly simple. The only problem is if the electromagnetic motor itself is bad, then you likely will not be able to repair it.

[cyron]

Mine ended up being the Cruise Control Fuse, which is not labeled.
It's the last fuse on the right labeled "Electronic Components" in the Glove Box fuse block.
It's a 10a Low Profile Mini-Fuse.