bgambino Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 06 forester Now....a week ago I got a remote starter put in the car....but I don't see any relationship to this problem I noticed today that if I step on the brake it wont come out of park into reverse. I release brake pedal...try...nothing do it 5-6 more times nothing Then next time it will shift out of park as normal If I KEEP the brake pedal down....I can put it back in park and back to reverse no problem....I can move it 10 times Then release the brake pedal and step on it again...the shifter will not move.... I have to press and release it maybe 10 times before I can finally get it to shift out of park I do hear the electronic relay clicking every time I move the shifter (yes even when I cannot get it into reverse)----it clicks when you slide the shifter to the right Is it a faulty switch attached to the brake pedal? Is it a neutral safety switch/ under the shift console? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Can you hear/feel the release solenoid at the base of the shifter when you hit the brake? If so, it may not be pulling back all the way. Those are known to get sticky residue on them from drinks/coffee spills in the console. Pull the console cover off, find the solenoid and check it for dust buildup, dried up sticky stuff, or dried up grease preventing it from retracting all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine73 Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 If you jiggle the shifter while pressing the brake does that make any difference? I had a sort of strange thing on mine where it wouldn't release the interlock but if I jiggled it, then it would, it turned out it didn't think it was in park, so therefore it didn't trigger the release solenoid thing. But if it worked fine before the remote starter ... and started acting up after ... then who knows, I mean it is entirely possible they tapped into or spliced into some wire related to that circuit/signal because obviously a remote starter wants to make sure the vehicle is in park before it tries to start it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgambino Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 no sound when pressing the brake....even when it is working properly The only sound is when the shifter is moved left-to-right while in the park position---you can hear a solenoid clicking under the dash I went out and popped the panel off around the shifter---there was a little "cap" I pulled out,,,,,see the picture This is similar to my 95 legacy I pushed that white thing with a screwdriver and that solves the problem It over rides the lock So its some kind of shift lock Not sure how to get to it underneath there or what the part is called... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Ok so you're hearing the key-lock solenoid engage, which is what prevents the key from being removed unless the shifter is in park. You should be hearing a solenoid click under the shifter when you hit the brake pedal. I think the solenoid should be somewhere beneath the shift lock emergency release (white button in the pic), possibly under the black plastic cover on the right side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgambino Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 ok...this morning I used the remote starter....when I got in the car it shifted with no issue Maybe at lunch time I will go out and see if i can here that click you spoke about (assuming it shifts flawlessly) I will see my mom tonight--she has an 07 forester...I am going to listen to hers also thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgambino Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 FairTax......you are right.....I did not hear a click under the shifter when pressing on the brake pedal This morning it was intermittently working and I can definitely hear the click when I step on brake (when it is working properly) So what is this part called Can it be cleaned? I thought I read somewhere that that's all it may need Not sure how to get at it though The huge suby junkyard 40 minutes from me will sell the whole shifter for $75..... Would rather clean it if possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgambino Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 (edited) I popped off a few covers off and there is the culprit.....It works maybe 1/10th of the time the brake is pressed Don't see any gunk holding it up Was hoping to clean it rather than replace I should probably make sure that power is going to it with each press of the pedal first.......and hope its not a deeper problem In the meantime I will get a price from my friends at walker-renton Subaru out in WA state Anyone know of a dealer who mail orders parts at a discount here on the east coast? These guys are great and they really don't gouge on the shipping cost....it's just that a faster delivery time to NY state would be nice Added-----wow...they emailed me a price in 5 mins....$41.21 #35173SA000 solenoid unit shift Edited January 6, 2016 by bgambino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 (edited) I think it should be getting 12v. Double check that. If the voltage is low it may be something related to the remote start install. Also Try to push/pull the lever that thing moves by hand to make sure the lock mechanism it moves freely. Maybe give it a couple quick shots of silicone spray. Edited January 6, 2016 by Fairtax4me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikaleda Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I think there is a shift lock relay, at least the older ones had one and that's what usually goes out on the older models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirtokesalot Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 id remove it if it were me. why does it need to lock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 To keep the driver/passenger from slinging a backpack/grocery bags/purse/etc across the console and knocking the trans out of park and letting the car roll away while said person is trying to get in and sit down. Don't assume people actually USE the parking brake, because most people don't. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirtokesalot Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 i feel like someone removed mine years ago or it does not work because i can shift without the brake on or without the car running even. i am required to push the button still but there was never a lock in mine since i got it or there is and it does not work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scar13 Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 bgambino, when you step on the brake and the shift lock solenoid does not click, are your brake lights lighting up or not? If not then I would replace your brake light switch down at the brake pedal. Just a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith3267 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Check your brake lights to see if they are working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgambino Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Hey guys I just checked the brakes lites. When I step on the pedal and the interlock (at the shifter) DOES work....the brake lites come on When the interlock does NOT activate with a push on the pedal....the brakes lites do NOT work Are we sure it then is the switch at the pedal?? Anyone ever change this? location? procedure? the mystery unfolds.... Edited January 12, 2016 by bgambino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brus brother Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 If you end up needing parts try subarupartsforyou.com here in CT. Ask for John or Anthony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Then a bad brake light switch it is! Poke your head under the dash, look near the top of the brake pedal. There wil be a big switch with probably 4 wires. Generally removal is pretty simple, though I've not done one on that year Subaru so I can't give specifics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scar13 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 most brake light switches you just turn counter clock wise 90 degrees and pull out of holder. reverse to install, but to get proper operation, when you install, only push switch in until plunger is depressed then twist clock wise to lock it in. be gentle doing this as the piece it locks into is a plastic part. also; the elec connector has a tab that needs to be depressed before pulling from the switch. if the tab does not depress easily push the connector into the switch then depress tab then pull apart, this removes tension from tab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgambino Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) UPDATE I used my voltmeter to see what voltage was going to that interlock at the shifter......(I am not an electronics expert lol) I poked thru the wires that just enter the interlock to see what is happening Step on brake....zero volts and no movement of interlock When is does activate with the push of the brake pedal....the meter (set at 20v range) would jump to only .45 volts and then immediately start dropping to .02 then .01 volts---the interlock still held Then i warmed up the cabin........it seems that it activates a little more often when its warmer......also.....the voltage gets higher too...as high as 6+ but still drops.....then sometimes 1 or 2 volts and drops..... Attached is a picture of that plunger switch at the brake pedal.....now, maybe it just went bad.....but notice the clipped on extra wire----that has to be from the shop that installed the remote starter Yet......I cannot understand how that could "stop" voltage from going from the brake switch to the shift interlock........it is only a piggyback wire it seems Bad switch or call the guy at the remote starter shop Edited January 13, 2016 by bgambino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Those type of connectors are horrible. They cut strands of the wire when they're crimped down. More than once I've seen those melted because the wire cant handle the current through the circuit after those are crimped on. Possible that connector is causing your problem. Check voltage at that wire on both sides of the crimp connector and see if there is a drop across the connector. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine73 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Another thing you could do to try just as a curiosity test is when you press the brake and the interlock does not fire, reach down under the dash there and jiggle that wire/connector slightly and see if that makes it engage or chatter, which if so might just mean that wire the crimp connector damaged needs to be repaired. Of course jiggling it might also break whatever thin strand of wire is still intact under the crimp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgambino Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 problem went away by itself...so far anyway Previously I did jiggle the wire down by the brake pedal when pressing the brake---no change I want to check the voltage down there while it is working to see what normal is---then wait for the problem to return Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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