Sidekick Stuck in Park

[pko]

I own a 1995 Suzuki Sidekick LX with an Automatic Transimission. It has ~100,000 miles on it. Over the past few days, the Kick has gotten stuck in park twice. The first time, the vehicle had been sitting idle for ~2 days. I attempted to start it as per usual: 1: insert key 2: turn on ignition 3: depress brake pedal 4: relese parking brake 5: shift from park into drive (or reverse). For some reason though it refused to shift out of park. I tried over a dozen times and it didn't work. After waiting a few minutes I tried it again and then suddenly it was working normally. I then went though a normal day, starting and stopping the Kick a number of times without incident. At this point, I was hoping that the problem was an isolated fluke of some sort. Not so. The Kick got stuck in part again the next morning and now it won't budge. Does anyone know what could be going on here? I would greatly appreciate any help that you can provide.

Cheers,

PKO

P.S.- When I do attempt to shift out of part the transmision lever/button feel exactly as they do if you attemp to shift out of park when the brake is not depressed.

[wuppy]

While in park, when you press the break peddle do you hear a *click* coming from the shifter?

There is a safety switch that allows you to fully press the shifter button and consequently shift from park only when you foot in on the break. Sometimes parts within the shifter assembly wear and this will make you unable to shift from park even with your foot on the break.

To fix this, there is a small access hole on the driver's side of the center console held by 1 screw. Remove the screw and the cap that is being secured by it. Inside there will be a pin you can remove. Just remove this pin and it disables the safety feature and allows you to shift without having your foot on the break etc.

This should only be a temp fix if it works though. It would be a good idea to get it fixed for real so it doesn't shift from park by accident.

[Gman]

pko welcome,

Here is a posting I wrote a week or two ago:

Won’t start sometimes in Park...

Check your brake lights, THE WIRING, of the Park position solenoid, is for safety - in that it forces you to not drive around, without brakelights. If lights are not functional, replace the Brake light switch. The only real weak point in the lockout system is the switch...

It was a common enough part, to be stocked in auto parts stores, last time I needed one

Jeff

[pko]

Thank you both for your suggestions. The problem resloved itself miraculously yet again though I'm sure it will reemerge.

I'm planning on keeping the tools I will need in order to disable the saftey feature in the vehicle so they will be available when and if this happens again. I'll look into a permanent fix at that point. Thnx again.

Cheers!

[lgoodson]

pko said:

I own a 1995 Suzuki Sidekick LX with an Automatic Transimission. It has ~100,000 miles on it. Over the past few days, the Kick has gotten stuck in park twice. The first time, the vehicle had been sitting idle for ~2 days. I attempted to start it as per usual: 1: insert key 2: turn on ignition 3: depress brake pedal 4: relese parking brake 5: shift from park into drive (or reverse). For some reason though it refused to shift out of park. I tried over a dozen times and it didn't work. After waiting a few minutes I tried it again and then suddenly it was working normally. I then went though a normal day, starting and stopping the Kick a number of times without incident. At this point, I was hoping that the problem was an isolated fluke of some sort. Not so. The Kick got stuck in part again the next morning and now it won't budge. Does anyone know what could be going on here? I would greatly appreciate any help that you can provide.

Cheers,

PKO

P.S.- When I do attempt to shift out of part the transmision lever/button feel exactly as they do if you attemp to shift out of park when the brake is not depressed.

PKO,

My sidekick did the same thing...If you take off the console, around the gear shift, you will see a small cylanoid thing. Press the brake and try shifting and you will see the part that is moving.

Take a ruberband or a wire tie and permantly sinch the part forward. It will stay forward all the time now, but you will not have any trouble shifting.