A while back when my battery drained down I couldn't move my gearshift lever at all. Once the battery was recharged it shifted fine. Last night my son spilled a diet soda all over the console and I know some went down into the shifter mechanism. THe battery seems to be charged but the lever isn't shiftin at all again. Any ideas?

 

You'll need to remove the part of the console covering the shifter, clean then dry the shifter interlock electrical connector and solenoid. Check to see if the fuse involved is blown. I rarely bring a drink into my 03 STR and won't allow anyone else either.

 

Thanks, and yes that is my new policy

 

That's been my policy all along - that goes for food/snacks/cigarettes as well...

 

is the a manual release button on the face lift models ?

 

There is a interlock solenoid that is released when the brakes are pressed. You can over ride this when the console is taken apart. All S Types have this interlock.

Several threads with pictures on what to take apart and how to get the shifter out of park.
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OK took everything apart, cleaned and hit it with a blow dryer. Fuse seems to be fine. Still won't shift. Also I noticed that the Sport mode button light doesn't come on when pressed either

 

What about taking the plug off the solenoid and checking that it gets power when you step on the brake pedal?
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Apparently no

 

Check other fuses.

And relays, maybe.

Safety interlocks tend to be simple-minded so they're.... safe. You're likely looking for something very simple.

On the later cars (2002.5MY-on) various of the gearbox-area lights are driven from a module (on the CAN bus) but I'm fairly sure they are just lights i.e. that's all the module does. It would be mildly annoying if it broke but I think that's all. A module is NOT a simple-minded thing so is not likely your problem.

 

Wonder if battery power needs to be shut down then reinstalled as a means to reset shift module?

 

fuses and relays all seem fine in all three panels.
Can use the override switch but as soon as I let go it locks up again. THe "P" doesn't light up

 

You can perform a hard-reset (disconnect battery terminals then touch together for 30 seconds) as a means to clear then reset modules.

 

are your brake lights working ? possibility it is the brake pedal switch or related system

 

That didn't work either

 

Brake lights are working

 

There is NO shift module.

 

What does that mean?

 

how did you test you were getting no power at the release solenoid ?

 

This means the shift interlock is a simple switch to solenoid actuated (no module) actuated interlock device. Check for power eminating from harness going to interlock solenoid. If no power, then fuse/relay issue.