Stuck In Park

[Guest cfryve]

After many happy hours working on my al4 auto transmission I'd be grateful if anyone can give me some advice on the latest problem.

After the most recent oil change with the box working reasonably well I parked it up for the night, in the morning it started up ok but was stuck in park.

I've had this problem before and usually solve it by rocking the car backwards and forward and then with foot on brake it comes out of park.

The difference is that normally the dash shows that it's in park now the indicator isn't lit up. This makes me think that it's a power problem.

If checked the auto fuse (f4) and it's ok, I've read on the aussie forum that it could be something to do with the brake switch or the switch on the selector.

Any ideas graetefully accepted

Thanks

[coastline taxis]

XFX - 4HX

SHIFT LOCK

The shift lock is a system which locks the gear selection lever in the park position «P».

Unlocking the «shift lock» (normal operation).

Switch on the ignition.

Apply the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Using the selection lever, disengage from position «P».

Unlocking the «shift lock» (with a fault).

NOTE : It is impossible to unlock the «shift lock» with the « normal operation» method.

The causes of the fault may arise from the following components :

- «Shift lock».

- Gear lever position switch.

- Automatic gearbox ECU.

- Electrical harnesses.

- Battery voltage.

Remove :

- The gear lever knob (1) by pulling upwards.

- The cover (2) (unclip).

- The shutter.

Unlock the «shift lock» (4) using a screwdriver.

Using the selection lever, disengage from position «P».

C5FPOCUD C5FPOCTC

C5

 

 

 

 

 

248

CLUTCH

GEARBOX

DRIVESHAFTS

RECOMMENDATIONS - PRECAUTIONS (AL 4 and 4 HP 20 AUTOMATIC GEARBOXES)

Engines : 6FZ - RFN - RHZ

ECU : Downloading, Configuration, Initialisation (Pedal) (continued)

Downloading (AL 4 only).

ECU downloading procedure :

- Follow the diagnostic tooling procedure.

A new ECU or downloaded update is always configured

with the following options :

- SHIFT LOCK gear selection lever position.

- OBD outlet (emission standard L4).

If the ECU is to be fitted to a vehicle without one or both

of these options:

- Carry out a configuration which inhibits the diagnosis of the

option(s) concerned.

Pedal initialisation. (AL 4 only).

A pedal initialisation must be carried out in the following cases :

- Replacement of the automatic gearbox ECU.

- Replacement of the automatic gearbox.

- Downloading of the ECU configuration.

- Adjustment or replacement of the accelerator cable.

- Replacement of the throttle potentiometer.

C5

- IMPERATIVE : For a certain period of time, while the ECU parameters are adapted to the gearbox, there may be an inconsistent

gear selection quality. To achieve a consistent standard, it will be necessary to carry out a road test taking in frequent gear changes

 

 

 

Hope this helps you a bit top part tells you how to get it out of park. Bottom bit is telling you about software update for the ecu. If you need any parts you know where the car is and just help yourself. Did you put the hydraulics onto your box if so you might need to update the ecu but im not sure about it mind. Think that iannez would be able to answer that one for you

[Guest cfryve]

XFX - 4HX

SHIFT LOCK

The shift lock is a system which locks the gear selection lever in the park position «P».

Unlocking the «shift lock» (normal operation).

Switch on the ignition.

Apply the brake pedal and keep it pressed.

Using the selection lever, disengage from position «P».

Unlocking the «shift lock» (with a fault).

NOTE : It is impossible to unlock the «shift lock» with the « normal operation» method.

The causes of the fault may arise from the following components :

- «Shift lock».

- Gear lever position switch.

- Automatic gearbox ECU.

- Electrical harnesses.

- Battery voltage.

Remove :

- The gear lever knob (1) by pulling upwards.

- The cover (2) (unclip).

- The shutter.

Unlock the «shift lock» (4) using a screwdriver.

Using the selection lever, disengage from position «P».

C5FPOCUD C5FPOCTC

C5

248

CLUTCH

GEARBOX

DRIVESHAFTS

RECOMMENDATIONS - PRECAUTIONS (AL 4 and 4 HP 20 AUTOMATIC GEARBOXES)

Engines : 6FZ - RFN - RHZ

ECU : Downloading, Configuration, Initialisation (Pedal) (continued)

Downloading (AL 4 only).

ECU downloading procedure :

- Follow the diagnostic tooling procedure.

A new ECU or downloaded update is always configured

with the following options :

- SHIFT LOCK gear selection lever position.

- OBD outlet (emission standard L4).

If the ECU is to be fitted to a vehicle without one or both

of these options:

- Carry out a configuration which inhibits the diagnosis of the

option(s) concerned.

Pedal initialisation. (AL 4 only).

A pedal initialisation must be carried out in the following cases :

- Replacement of the automatic gearbox ECU.

- Replacement of the automatic gearbox.

- Downloading of the ECU configuration.

- Adjustment or replacement of the accelerator cable.

- Replacement of the throttle potentiometer.

C5

- IMPERATIVE : For a certain period of time, while the ECU parameters are adapted to the gearbox, there may be an inconsistent

gear selection quality. To achieve a consistent standard, it will be necessary to carry out a road test taking in frequent gear changes

Hope this helps you a bit top part tells you how to get it out of park. Bottom bit is telling you about software update for the ecu. If you need any parts you know where the car is and just help yourself. Did you put the hydraulics onto your box if so you might need to update the ecu but im not sure about it mind. Think that iannez would be able to answer that one for you

[Guest cfryve]

Thanks for that

 

I did swap the hydaulics over but it made it worse so put my originals back in.

 

I then tried swapping the pressure sensor over from the bottom of the box, it seemed to work ok but then the latest problem. I can't believe that just swapping a sensor could cause it so jam in park.

 

I think I'll have a go at unlocking it using the method you've listed and see what happens.

[GreenBlood]

Thanks for that

 

I did swap the hydaulics over but it made it worse so put my originals back in.

 

I then tried swapping the pressure sensor over from the bottom of the box, it seemed to work ok but then the latest problem. I can't believe that just swapping a sensor could cause it so jam in park.

 

I think I'll have a go at unlocking it using the method you've listed and see what happens.

 

Have a look here >>> http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67307

 

Edit ** oops, just re-read your post and you have already visited the thread I pointed to...

 

Cheers

Chris

[Guest cfryve]

Thanks Chris,

 

It's a good link and saved damaging all the trim in getting to the selector mechanism.

 

Got it all to bits and out of park. For all of you who have problems with using these cars in manual mode there's a magnet on the side of the spring loaded ball bearing assemly that sweeps past a circuit board when you move the selector that must tell the transmission to change. I suppose that if objects fall down into there it would effect the pcb and stop working.

 

Anyway I managed to work out that the selector in normal operation just wasn't going far enough forward. As per Coastline's post one of the causes of the problem is the gear lever postion switch. I finally worked out that this is the switch at the other end of the cable ie on top of the gearbox. This has slots to allow you to rotate it and hence adjust what gear it's telling the ecu it's in. Maybe it's to take up wear on the cable as well

So with a bit of experimentation and cleaning the rubbish out of the mechanism the selector and park lock are now working fine.

 

Once again I'm indebted to Coastline for his source of parts and advice.