Gear shift won't shift into reverse or park (is in neutral)

Tiny
HEMMERN39
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 SUBARU FORESTER
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
I have a 2003 Subaru Forester, automatic transmission. Yesterday, I accidentally left a door ajar and drained the battery. This morning I had my roommate jump the car, but first we had to push it out of the driveway. The gear shifter was stuck in park. I did not realize that there was a release that I could engage with a screwdriver to release it from park, so I muscled it into neural. We jumped the car and everything was fine, but then I could not shift the car back into park (or reverse). I tried then to engage the release, to no avail. I am able to shift the transmission from neutral to drive and to all the lower gears, but cannot go past neutral on the way back up. Help please!
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014 AT 12:01 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,108 POSTS
It sounds like you must have damaged the park lock solenoid. That is the device that keeps it in PARK until power from the brake light switch releases it to shift from park. Something either has come apart or has bent and not allowing the shifter to return to the park position.
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Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014 AT 5:27 AM
Tiny
AVATARAVATAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 SUBARU FORESTER
  • AWD
  • 95 MILES
My 200 forrester was stuck in park. I followed the instructions in the owners' manual to release it by sticking a screwdriver in a hole. That works until I put it in park again, which I have to do to remove the key. Now I would like to diagnose the failure and fix it. Do you know how?
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Most common is brake light switch failure or it circuit
Step on brakes and ask a helper to check if have stop light on
Check fuses
Check brake light switch
Check wiring
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SIXPACK SUBARU
  • MEMBER
  • 22 POSTS
If the brake-light switch checks-out OK, you may need a shift-lock solenoid. They have had earth issues before, (like most makes of vehicle), so check the earth circuit when checking power to the solenoid with the brakes applied.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:42 PM (Merged)

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