Hi everyone, new member here so thanks for this great site!! I have a 2003 S type R with 78k miles on it. Today i parked on a perfectly flat hill and turned the car off. I returned a few minutes later, car started just fine however i cant get it out of park. I checked the fusses and brake lights and everything seemed fine. in searching the web it sounds like maybe the neutral safety switch might be the problem? if so i cant really seem to find anything to show me where the switch is or what part # i should buy to replace it? any help is appreciated!! Thank you

 

Ummm..search here on "shift linkage"... Probably something as simple as a loose or missing bolt... Real common..

 

ok thx, looks like most of those suggest it might be the bolts connecting the cable to the transmition. ill jack it up and check those out. Thank you

 

ok i tried the bolts on the cable at the trany but those were on nice and tight so no issue there. ill keep searching the site but any other suggestions? Thanks again

 

There's an interlock in the shifter which sounds to have failed. Try the electrical diagrams but it's something like a microswitch and maybe a solenoid too. If you DIY then take the shifter stuff apart and do some testing

 

great advice! i got everything apart and it looks like its the Gearshift interlock solenoid thats not working. i can force it open to allow the gears to shift but then of course i cant get the keys out of the ignition. So i guess ill replace the solenoid, any ideas on what/where to find the replacement? sorry I'm not that good with electrical. Thanks again

 

Be very careful about forcing the shifter. You will break a plastic part that is expensive to replace. Also be aware that the problem is wide spread and there are aftermarket steel parts to replace the plastic that breaks.

Look here for various shifter parts you might need.

http://www.motorcarsltd.com/_search....ge=1&q=shifter
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yes thank you. i was very careful and dint force anything so the clip is still in tact/ I have tested the solenoid and it is working fine. so know I'm kinda back to square one..I know its not the solenoid, i know its no the bolts holding the cable tot he trany, i know its not the clip in the shifter module...I have the entire shifter module apart so i can examine and test it but I'm at a loss.........

 

Do your brake lights work?? Be aware the brake light switch must be engaged before the shifter will move out of park??
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Good thinking!

Cars are getting so safe that you can't drive them - the ultimate in safety

 

yup the break lights all work and i checked the fuses as well. right now i have the solenoid wired to a cigarette lighter plug and I'm simply plugging it in and unplugging it to get by.

 

thanks, although i do feel i little ghetto driving around a 400hp Jag that i have to plug into a cigarette lighter to operate

 

Consider it your... Security System.

Btw, if you can put power to the solenoid and it works, it's not the solenoid that's bad. Most likely the brake switch, not tripping the solenoid on it's own. My old X-Type was wired to the cigarette lighter (but I pulled the ash tray and wired it so it wasn't visible). This was cause like you, I needed to drive the car, and it happened over a weekend. Funny thing is it stayed (and worked) this way for almost 4 years till the car was totaled.

George

 

thats great I'm glad I'm not the only one! i had thought about the break switch but then i thought i had read that if that was the issue the break lights would not be working which they are?

 

I have the same problem. Mine died in a fast food line, and I could not shift out of park. Finally got it to shift out and drove home, but then it was stuck again. Did you ever figure out what the issue was?

 

Did this ever get resolved? I had to take a taxi home tonight because my STR wouldn't shift out of park tonight. The last time I changed the oil I checked the shift linkage and it was fine. Brake lights work, and the fuse looks good. WTF?

 

Yeah pretty lame when people come here asking for help, get some, then never bother to come back with the results or an update as that information could be very helpful to others.

 

Even without the actual result for the original car, the list of things to check applies and in any case the recent car's fault may not be the identical fault. Work through the posts

 

Is there a way to temorarily override the shift interlock so that I can at least drive it to the service shop and not pay for a tow?

 

I agree, but it would be FAR more helpful if they reported back with results and/or the fix. If two or three people had the exact same issue and it was resolved in the same way that would be immensely helpful, far more so than you can try this or that. You don't have to be a frequent poster, but if you're going to solicit help it would be a courtesy to report back with a solution or update.