Shift Override button

Post by **Ben850** » 08 Nov 2011, 18:44

This may be a silly question, but is it standard procedure to have to use the shift override button to get out of park, or is that an indication of a malfunction from the key switch?
It has been this way since I aquired the car two months ago and as far as I know, the person I got it from never questioned it from the original owner. It seems a bit of an inconvienience to use two hands to get out of park.
I should have asked about this earlier but I was fixing many other things.

Post by **jblackburn** » 08 Nov 2011, 20:05

One of several components in the system has failed.

This may be related to:
-Shift lock microswitch (most common failure)
-Bad ignition switch - try twitching your key
-Brake switch contacts
-Bad/sticky solenoid.

I would start with fiddling with the igntion switch and removing the plug to your brake switch. Short the lower right and upper left contacts with a piece of wire and see if the shiftlock switch (with ignition in Pos II) unlocks.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 08 Nov 2011, 21:07

If it was the ignition switch, other things would be dead, too.
If all your other electrics are OK, I'd suspect the microswitch in
the shifter console or the brake light switch at the pedal first.

Have look at this older string of posts on the topic:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... f=1&t=4526

It's for the 70 series cars, but it'll give you a start.

Post by **Ben850** » 08 Nov 2011, 21:44

I think the brake pedal switch is fine because the brake still has to be depressed to shift out of park and it works. Everything else related to the ignition switch is also working fine. So this leads me to the microswitch. I am not familiar with this switch but the pdf file showed the location. I may grab a couple from the parts yard to try a comparison.
Thanks.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 08 Nov 2011, 21:49

Ben850 wrote:I think the brake pedal switch is fine because the brake still has to be depressed to shift out of park and it works. Everything else related to the ignition switch is also working fine. So this leads me to the microswitch. I am not familiar with this switch but the pdf file showed the location. I may grab a couple from the parts yard to try a comparison.
Thanks.

?
I thought you stated that you had to use the overide button?

Post by **jblackburn** » 08 Nov 2011, 23:22

If you haveta push the override button it doesn't care if the brake pedal is depressed or not.

Post by **Ben850** » 09 Nov 2011, 06:21

I do have to press the override button, but it still won't allow me out of park until I press the brake as well.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 09 Nov 2011, 10:57

That doesn't make any sense. The button is a purely mechanical bypass for emergencies.
The override button should let you shift out of park even if the battery is out of the car.
The brake pedal switch should have no bearing at all if you use the button.

Post by **Ben850** » 09 Nov 2011, 15:07

BEJinFbk wrote:That doesn't make any sense. The button is a purely mechanical bypass for emergencies.
The override button should let you shift out of park even if the battery is out of the car.
The brake pedal switch should have no bearing at all if you use the button.

I'm sure I don't understand it either. This is my reason for asking.
This is the only way I can get out of park, I have to both push the override button and depress the brake.
Could this be something related to '93 850s only? Maybe I need the brake BECAUSE the engine is running? That would seem to make sense.

alexk243 · Post by **alexk243** » 09 Nov 2011, 15:35

Isn't the PNP switch have something to do with switching out of park? Just cleaned and realigned mine due to no reverse lights and not it goes out of park with no issues (had to do the same thing you are doing before).