Shift Override button

[rspi]

When I've had that problem with my Volvo's it has been the ignition switch. What I usually do is Start the car, then turn the key back a little towards off (but not to far as to shut the car off), then it works fine. However, I have pulled a few shifters apart and seen a wooden wedge in the shifter cable thing. Check out these instructions I posted, start around item 28.
http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technologyi ... repair.htm

[Ben850]

So I went to my new favorite place,(thanks out to MattyMoo) Parts Galore, a pick and pull yard. I looked for brake switches but '93 850 is an old style and there were none. It's only a $10 part so I'll pick one up later.
So I moved on to the Microswitch. It is soldered to the solenoid so I cut one from a shifter I found. I came across another and decided to take the solenoid as well and leave them connected, as the solenoid looked shiney and new.
Long story short, it works! and I am happily getting out of park with one hand.

I would likely say the solenoid was probably fine and attribute the original fault to the Microswitch, But I liked the idea of 1. not having to solder. 2. It looks "shiney and new". And 3. The price was right because I was able to get a complete console with master window switches, seat heater switches, trans. E S W switch and two cabin temp. sensors for $18.22.
It was a good day.
Thanks for everyones input, I do appreciate it.

[jblackburn]

Cool, glad you fixed it.

The solenoid had been a bit sticky on mine from crap spilled down in there somehow I believe. The microswitch and brake switch AND ignition switch have all gone bad at other points

[alexk243]

So the solenoid and the microswitch are both right underneath the shiftlock override switch, correct?

Thinking of grabbing one from the junkyard as well

[Ben850]

So the solenoid and the microswitch are both right underneath the shiftlock override switch, correct?

Thinking of grabbing one from the junkyard as well

Yes, the solenoid is on the right side and slides out in that direction. The microswitch is basicly in the middle, underneath.
To get the microswitch out you have to pull it off its clip from the left side first. Then the clip needs to also be popped out.
It is a small black plastic piece with two pins that hold the switch through the two holes you can see in the above photo.
Then you can fish the switch through the middle of the shifter and take it and the solenoid out together from the right side without separating them. This will make more sense when you are actually doing it.
Good luck.

[shiloh51933]

Nope - PNP is not in that loop.
Here's the info from the '94 850 wiring book:

94 850 P-Lock diagram and component locations.pdf

I would'nt want to deal with the PNP switch right now anyway as all gears and reverse lights are working fine. So is there a physical actuator in the shifter that is released by a servo electronically?

M

[Ben850]

That sounds like more steps than pushing the override button.

No, but the problem has been solved via replacement of the microswitch/solenoid combo. Thanks though.



Edit: Previous poster seems to have deleted his question, so disregard this post.

[cn90]

I have the same issue and try to eliminate the problem.

I have to press both brake pedal and press the override button to switch out of P.

Q: to rule out the brake switch, the fact that when I press brake pedal, the brake lights in the rear are lit as designed: does this mean the brake switch is OK?
If so, then the problem is in the microswitch.

[Ben850]

I have the same issue and try to eliminate the problem.

I have to press both brake pedal and press the override button to switch out of P.

Q: to rule out the brake switch, the fact that when I press brake pedal, the brake lights in the rear are lit as designed: does this mean the brake switch is OK?
If so, then the problem is in the microswitch.

After installing the microswitch and solenoid combo from a parts car everything was fine.

Although the override button does bypass the solenoid plunger, It did seem that I did have to both press the brake and the override at the same time. It is possible I was trying with the key in the wrong posittion at one time and that further frustrated me.
Either way I would bet on the microswitch to be at fault. Now I can hear an audible click when I step on the brake, and it shifts easily out of park.
Oh, and I also had to fix the broken button on the shift knob, which makes it more difficult to get out of park. That may have also added to the confusion. Check for a little piece of the shift knob button to be chipped where the hinge pin is,
Good Luck.

[cn90]

Many years ago, I owned a 1983 BMW 735i 5-speed manual transmission with no clutch switch, technically speaking you can start the car in 1st gear and the car will move forward, however, clutch drivers always have the habit of making sure the gear is in neutral before starting the car. Fast forward 20 years later, all new BMWs with MT have the clutch switch (which is basically the equivalent of this AT shift solenoid thingy).

Off topic but down the road, I might (yes I might) disable this whole thing altogether.
I understand this is a safety issue but when parked, the car is always in P. So not a safety issue at all.
I can see this to be an issue in MT but not in AT car.