Auto Gear Stick

[fatblokes]

i have a 2.3 auto galaxy ghia x v reg, the problem is the button wont depress on the gear selector. it has a feature that only allows you to press when the brake pedal is pressed but it aint working. when the ignition is off i can select gears so i know the solonoid aint sticking, can any body help me with this problem? thanks in advance.

mark

[Guest SA Intruder]

Do your brake lights work?

 

If not, change the brake switch.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

I would have said the opposite - if you can press the button and change the position of the lever when the ignition is off, then the inhibit solenoid is sticking ON and preventing you from moving the lever.

[MrT]

This may vary between models and age.

 

You should have two lights on your dash related to this when you first start the car. There should be a light with a picture of a bulb and another with a picture of the brake pedal with a circle. The light with a picture of a bulb should go out when you first press the brake pedal and the other will go out then come back on after a few seconds if you do not move the gears. If this does not happen, your brake switch(es) (there are two on the pedal) could be faulty.

 

There is also a mechanical interlock cable (like a bike brake cable) that links between the ignition lock and the gearbox that prevents you removing the ignition key whilst in gear. This also could have stuck.

[fatblokes]

on the dash of my car there a two orange/yellow star like lights on the picture of the car at the back by the boot, these have always gone off as soon as i press the brake. one time one did not but i change the bulb then the display worked again. for now i have unpluged the solenoid under the gear shift cover this is working but i would like to find out where it is controlled from to see if there is a problem there.

thanks again.

fatblokes

[Topbloke]

I have a auto gal and i can confirm that you are able to move the gear selector when the ignition is off. there are two switches on the brake pedal one for the lights the other for the ecu if the brake lights are working then that switch is okay try the other (there are various threads on this site reference brake switches ) the switches are about 10/12 pounds and its proberbly worth changing both . they are fairly simple to fit and adjust

[fatblokes]

thanks, i was wondering if safe to do what ihave done for now (unpluging the solinoid)? i was not sure if there could be other things that could give me a problem that i would not no about.

thanks for you help.

mark

[NikpV]

Just before purchase our Gal had been sitting around for a month and within the first week we had this problem (could move selector when off but not with engine running) , call the AA and he wd40'ed the brake switch its been fine ever since (touching wood, crossing fingers).

[fatblokes]

thanks ill give that a go.

[Topbloke]

there should not be any problems as long as you put your foot on the pedal before droping it in to gear all auto's used to be this way in the old days

[NikpV]

there should not be any problems as long as you put your foot on the pedal before droping it in to gear all auto's used to be this way in the old days

 

I gather from the OP that its not working :rolleyes:

[fatblokes]

i have not had a chance to look at the switch yet, and as for putting the car into gear while pressing the brake this is normal to me, i just got rid of a 535i auto bmw and i had to do that any way. i was just conserned that nothing else was messing up without me knowing. thanks for you help guys.

fatblokes

mark

[fatblokes]

just to let you all know, my brake lights failed. when i was asked if they were working it seams that they were but intermitently, so i purchased a new switch for 15 quid and the lights and the gear stick problem are both sorted. thanks once again for your help.

fatblokes

mark

[Guest SA Intruder]

You're welcome.