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Once in awhile when I start the car, it wont.

Tiny
SS350
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 SATURN SL1
  • 165,000 MILES
Once in awhile when I start the car, it wont shift out of park. What could the problem be? Any help would be appreciated.
Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 6:29 AM

14 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check/Test the brake switch and the shift interlock control solenoid-
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 6:43 AM
Tiny
SS350
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  • 9 POSTS
Thanks! I was thinking it was an electrical problem. Where would the shift interlock control solenoid be located?
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 3:04 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just to add to this the shift interlock solenoid is at the base of the inside shifter the solenoid or the solenoids arm it attaches to at the shifter is gummed up with coffee soda etc. Two main causes of your symptoms bad solenoid or gummed up shifter. Does the solenoid click when stepping on the brake when it wont. Come out of park?
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
SS350
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  • 9 POSTS
Hi Saturntech9. It just happened again, there was no audible clicking noise. Thanx for the advice.
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 7:40 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Make sure it has power and ground going to it when its not clicking if so most likely bad solenoid.
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Saturday, December 8th, 2012 AT 1:24 AM
Tiny
SS350
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  • 9 POSTS
Thanks again, I will check that out tomorrow.
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Saturday, December 8th, 2012 AT 1:31 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Keep me posted can you hear it clicking when the shifter comes out of park?
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Saturday, December 8th, 2012 AT 2:15 AM
Tiny
SS350
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  • 9 POSTS
@ Saturntech9.I Checked the power and the ground to the solenoid and it was ok.I just replaced the switch and hope that's the end of the problem. Thanks again for all of your help. Appreciate it.
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Saturday, December 8th, 2012 AT 10:10 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Sounds good you replaced the solenoid?Did you check to make sure the arm it hooks to wasnt gummed up?
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Sunday, December 9th, 2012 AT 1:42 AM
Tiny
SS350
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  • 9 POSTS
Yes. Replaced the solenoid. Everything looked very clean.
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Sunday, December 9th, 2012 AT 1:47 AM
Tiny
SS350
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  • 9 POSTS
Yes, I replaced the solenoid and everything looked clean.
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Sunday, December 9th, 2012 AT 1:52 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The way I see if the arm is gummed up is with everything hooked up step on the brake and just push the shifter button then let it go. To see if the arm goes right back to where it was or slowly goes back.I do that a bunch of times but if you say its good then its good.
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Sunday, December 9th, 2012 AT 1:53 AM
Tiny
SS350
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  • 9 POSTS
Thanks for all your help saturntech9
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Sunday, December 9th, 2012 AT 1:57 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Your welcome thats what were here for.
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Sunday, December 9th, 2012 AT 2:00 AM

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