car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...

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car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...

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Volkswagen Forums >> VW MODELS >> Volkswagen Jetta >> car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...

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car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park... - 6/12/2006 2:40:33 PM

apercele79

Posts: 2
Joined: 6/12/2006
Status: offline

i am a noob on this site and i am extremely frustrated b/c the car turns on, but it takes me sooooo long to get the damn gear swticher out of park..it doesnt happen every time, but it has happened that i have stayed 15-20 minutes until i put it in reverse, drive, etc....why could it be stuck in park? something is definitely broken but what could it be?

thanks in advcance to all

by the way it's a 2003 jetta 1.8, automatic, Gasoline

Post #: 1

RE: car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park... - 6/12/2006 6:29:00 PM

Jsd

Posts: 368
Joined: 9/20/2005
Status: offline

Sounds like your solenoid for the safety switch is gone, or the wiring to it is not making a good connection sometimes. Sounds like a transmission shop visit to me.

-Jeff

_____________________________

NOS is for cowards.

(in reply to apercele79)

Post #: 2

RE: car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park... - 6/26/2006 2:47:33 PM

Britt

Posts: 2
Joined: 6/26/2006
Status: offline

I had the same thing happen to me last month. I have a 2000 Jetta. I was at the gas station and I couldn't get the shifter out of park. It turned out to be the brake light switch. Apparently, when I put my foot on the brake pedal the brake lights weren't coming on. If the brake lights on the back of the car don't come on then the computer doesn't know that you have the brake pedal pressed. It's a safety feature. If you haven't solved your problem, I hope this helps.

(in reply to apercele79)

Post #: 3

RE: car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park... - 7/10/2006 3:11:58 PM

apercele79

Posts: 2
Joined: 6/12/2006
Status: offline

yeah, it was the brake light switch, as suggested here...

Thanks for your help!