Stuck in Park

[Snakebite]

Newbie here posting for the first time.
Bought my first Volvo (2006 S60 T5 LOADED!) about 2 months ago and I love it.
So much so, my daughter bought a 2004 2.5T last week.

I have had an issue for the last few mornings with my 2006 S60 T5 (Automatic) sticking in park but for the life of me I could not find a single thread on the fix in this forum or any other online search so I thought I would help others that may have this same thing happening.
The sticking would happen in the morning when it is cold outside (32F) but by the time I got home in the evening the car would work fine.

I did read a few posts about the possibility of a sticky beverage spilling on top of the center console area getting into the solenoid tied into the brake switch. I pulled the top cover plates off gaining access to the gear selector assembly and found that someone had spilled orange soda. I used some electrical cleaner to spray everything down but like I said it was working fine so I didn't know if that worked. The next morning the same thing happened.

I found that the solenoid was not the problem after all. There is a cable tied to the selector assembly on the drivers side that unlocks the gear selector when the key is turned to position 2 on the ignition.

It is the yellow knob seen in the picture. I am able to move it to the rear of the car by tapping on it with a screwdriver (Key in position 2) allowing me to shift freely. The other issue is that it will not always move back to it's locked position when the key is turned off preventing the key from being removed form the ignition so I have to tap it forward. Quite sticky.

I will be pulling the center console apart to get better access to the side of this assembly for a proper cleaning and lubrication.
I will report back on if this fixed the issue.

If someone else has had this problem and wants to shed some light on the fix let me know.

Thanks!

[chrism]

With the ignition ON, pump the brake pedal several times in quick succession (you should feel the solenoid clicking in the shift lever) and see if you can then move the shifter. The solenoid and locking pin are located on the front side of the shifter mechanism. You will probably have to remove the shift lever/boot/top console panel to see it.

In my case the locking pin was dirty and didn't want to move its full stroke when the brake was applied. Spraying the pin with brake cleaner (or was it electrical component cleaner???) while pumping the brake got it clean and freed-up to move fully fore and aft.

It was just a bummer that I cracked the windshield with my elbow when removing the shift lever. Seriously.

[abscate]

Ouch. Hope you have glass coverage. Operator error is covered.

[Snakebite]

Thanks for the reply.

I did exactly that at first (pumping the brakes) and thought the solenoid was sticking.
I even pulled the shift knob off and drove around like that for a day. (Not recommended due to the possibility of shifting from drive to reverse by accident)

My problem is 100% the key safety function.
I am driving around at the moment with the trim plate off so I can tap the lever in the event it sticks.
It didn't stick this morning but it was mid 40s out. Seems to be worse when it's colder (close to freezing) out.

I plan on attacking the issue this weekend and will let you know if the cleaning worked.
The only problem is I don't anticipate any more freezing temperatures here till next fall, so only time will tell.

[Snakebite]

Update:

I was able to pull the side cover from just below the console gaining access to the pivot point.
With the seat slid all the way back you can get a pretty good view.

(Future image when I figure out how)

I did a heavy shot of electrical cleaner in the pivot point followed by some lubricant.
This weekend we had pretty good temps and this started happening with the temps close to freezing but I feel this will cure my issue.

I hope this helps someone else in the future.

[Alexk]

I had a similar problem with my 02 xc70. So far the problem seems fixed with a comination of lubricating the cable that goes to the ignition switch from both ends. The cable pops out of the switch easily and the cowling around the steering column comes off after removing the 3 screws below and separating.
What really seemed to help was readjusting the cable at the shifter by pulling off the yellow cap mentioned above. Too far one way and you are stuck in park. You need to find the sweet spot. My cable slipped after putting the cap back on so I wrapped it with tape and secured with zip ties.
I removed the console but you might be able to access by removing the drivers side panel with a coin and pull back.

[onestupidllama]

Update:

I was able to pull the side cover from just below the console gaining access to the pivot point.
With the seat slid all the way back you can get a pretty good view.

(Future image when I figure out how)

I did a heavy shot of electrical cleaner in the pivot point followed by some lubricant.
This weekend we had pretty good temps and this started happening with the temps close to freezing but I feel this will cure my issue.

I hope this helps someone else in the future.

I would like to thank you for posting this. It helped me from the future. I found my 02 S60 AWD wouldnt shift out of park when it was cold in the morning. I had already started by replacing the shift knob and was starting to look into the lockout solenoid. Before I dropped to much cash i found this post. I ended up looking at this cable and finding it completely gunked up with some sugary mess. I cleaned up and lubricated the cable and this solved my problem.

The symptoms seem to be:
1: cold weather related inability to shift out of park
2: it will shift after warm up
3: you can hear the shift lockout soleniod upon pressing the brake/ brake switch seems fine

Diag: If you take the side cover off the center console and push the yellow part toward the back of the car, and then you can shift out of park, then the ignition lockout cable is the issue. I also couldn't get the key out until I shifted the yellow tab forward again, but then was locked out of park.

Resolution: I sprayed WD-40 near the return spring of the cable attached to the yellow part then cycled the ignition until I could see the assembly moving freely. Your mileage may vary. I'm sure a different cleaner/spray would be optimal but that's what I had. Open to better suggestions.

[cn90]

The 2006 S60 with 102K miles have the same issue:

- Sometimes I cannot shift out of Park. I can hear the solenoid when the Brake Pedal is pressed.

- So I assume the solenoid is good.

- Can someone tell me EXACTLY how the safety system works? I am thinking:
1. Turn key to position I or II (or start the engine and key goes back to position II) --->
2. The shifter cable is pulled from the key ignition area and moves the Yellow thingy posted in
the first post above.
3. That does not mean one can shift out of Park.
4. Now one presses on the brake pedal ---> One has to press the button on the shifter --->
solenoid moves something, allowing the shifter to move out of Park.

- Is there any animation movie out there I can watch to understand EXACTLY how it works?

I thought this video below is very good:

[motormikeyman]

It is possible the mechanism inside your shift knob is broken. You can press the button but it will not pull up the release rod. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won't. They are easy to change and you can get a good used one on Ebay for $40-$50.

[cn90]

I thought at 100K miles it is too early to fail?

Does anyone know the PN for Auto Shifter for 2006 S60?

- If truly shifter issue, EXACTLY what is wrong?
Can the "button repair kit" ($35 on eBay) solve it?