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Jim
Grant has been working in the automotive industry for over twenty
years. In addition, Jim is an ASE Master Technician with advanced
L/1 certification. He works as manager and technician in his
family's automotive business in New Hampshire. He writes weekly
automotive consumer columns and is editor of an automotive newsletter
that is circulated throughout North America. |
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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'91 Volvo 240, Transmission Interlock Won't Unlock
Q:
I have
a '91 Volvo 240 with an automatic transmission. I can't get the shifter
out of park for several minutes upon first starting vehicle. There is
a micro-switch inside the plastic shift apron (P-R-D-2-1) but it doesn't
seem to do anything although I can hear it clicking when I push on it.
Only after the engine has warmed up can I shift out of Park and get going.
Is there a way to bypass this feature? Sometimes I have to wait 5-8 minutes
to get the car out of Park! This is very inconvenient at times.
-
Ken O.
A:
I would
never suggest disabling or by-passing a safety device. Your Volvo has
a concealed mechanical release lever located right by the text on your
shifter that says SHIFTLOCK RELEASE. You can reach in with your finger
just past the brushes of the shift path and push the lever to the left
to release/disengage the shift lock. If you cannot release the shift lock
in this manner then there is a problem in that area that will only get
worse. My suggestion is to have the console removed and the shift lock
system inspected and returned to correct operation. Shift lock systems
are pretty reliable units. The biggest problem we see is with debris falling
down inside the mechanism. Hair pins, pencils money, small action figures
are just a few of the items we've removed to get a shift lock system operational
again. You'd be surprised what fits down through that shifter opening.
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