Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting ATX shifter button problem

My transmission has been leaking for a while but this is ridiculous...

The button on the shifter is not working problem, so I basically have to force the shifter into drive... I hear a clicking noise on the dash when I move the shifter a little bit...

PLEASE HELP>>> I am about to toss this car in the water I am so angry with it!

Thanks guys! Marcio

Do you hear a click when you step on the brake? If not, the actuator may be bad. I didn't have this problem, but the one I did have was a worn gear lock shaft (whatever it's called). Basically, I could press the button in but it wasn't pushing the rod far enough to get it past the ridges on the selector mechanism. I ended up gluing a shim on the button.

It happens anytime I try to shift into drive... I can have my foot off the brake pedal and the noise will still be there... your second choice sounds reasonable... any more help is appreciated...

thank you for the reply!

Are you trying to shift from Park to Drive without stepping on the brake? If so, there's your problem. You have to step on the brake to get the actuator to release the lock so you can move the lever.

Otherwise, you'll end up needing to take the shift console off and making a couple of adjustments.

I will try that and see what happens... what if it still happens when I press the brake?

thank you again!

I tried it now... I step on the brake and the button won't give in... I kinda move the lever a little bit and eventually the button gives in and I can actually shift... most of the times I force it in because I am not really patient with that type of stuff... please comment!

OK - - When you push the button on the shifter, it pushed a plastic rod down through the shifter to push down the lock out mechanism. If you pop the cover off of the console so you can see under the shifter it will make more sense. Get a this object like a pocket knife and pry carefully under the left side of the cover and it will pop up enough to remove it with your hands. Obviously it won't come off all the way without taking the shifter handle off the shaft with is a little tricky because of the O/D wire. Anyway, If you have your foot on the brake and push the button on the shifter while looking under the cover of the console you can see the rod pushing down the lock out mechanism. Try pushing it down manually and see if you can shift it. It should move out of gear VERY easily at that point. It's a simple "bar" that run across the shifting mechanism. ...It sounds like the plastic rod is simply NOT pushing the bar down far enough. With the cover off, by turning it around a little bit you should also hear a louder "click" when you push the brake pedal and also SEE the mechanism "unlock" when you press the brake pedal. (the mechanism is on the right rear side of the console.) Hope this helps....If you figure out that the rod isn't pushing down far enough then fixing that is "Step 2"....

One thing I don't think I said very clearly. Step on the brake and then press in the button.

If you have been really impatient with it, you may have broken the locking mechanism. If so, you'll have to take it to a professional to have it repaired. Your patience will be worn to a "nub" if you try to do it yourself...

it sounds like something easy... I am going to look at it too see if this is worth spending the money to fix it... I am fixing the transmission leak first, then the ac then the lock mechanism.. you are all very helpful!!!

I know in the winter, mine freezes and I have to let the car warm up before it will work. I don't think you'll have that problem in florida though but if you weren't the car's original owner someone from up our way may have been impatient also and started the journey to breaking the rod.