Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

I have a 1997 Camaro V6 automatic. I might be using the wrong terminology here... ...but when I try to engage the parking break, it won't click into place. The car just starts rolling like it's in neutral. This has been happening for a few days, and I've just been using the E-Break when I park. ...but today, it didn't shift into reverse first try. soooo....

I checked the transmission fluid and it was way low - I refilled it and drove around for a bit. it shifts smoother, but if I try to put it in park and hold the shifter there, it'll go *click**click**click* as it begins rolling.

Is my transmission shot? :( I can do without a parking break, but if it won't shift into reverse or through the gears properly, it looks like I'll either have to spend a few grand on a new transmission or a "new" car.

[ScottS4050]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

Your terminology is a bit off. The parking brake is the same as the emergency brake (the lever that clicks as you pull it up.) You are talking about 'Park' on your gear selector, and unfortuately this is probably a transmission problem. There is a mechanism inside the tranny that stops the output shaft (driveshaft) from turning when you put it in Park. That mechanism may be worn out.

On cars with column mounted shifters, there is a linkage that can come out of adjustment and cause the same problem (doesn't let the tranny fully engage into Park.) I'm not sure if that adjustment exists on floor mounted shifters, or not. Mine is a manual, so hopefully someone here with an auto can chime in.

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

Your terminology is a bit off. The parking brake is the same as the emergency brake (the lever that clicks as you pull it up.) You are talking about 'Park' on your gear selector, and unfortuately this is probably a transmission problem. There is a mechanism inside the tranny that stops the output shaft (driveshaft) from turning when you put it in Park. That mechanism may be worn out.

On cars with column mounted shifters, there is a linkage that can come out of adjustment and cause the same problem (doesn't let the tranny fully engage into Park.) I'm not sure if that adjustment exists on floor mounted shifters, or not. Mine is a manual, so hopefully someone here with an auto can chime in.

Assuming that that gear is worn out, is it irrelevant when it comes to driving, etc? I don't ultimately care about the park on my gear selector, so much as what problems with it might represent. Thanks :)

[timthescarred]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

As far as an automatic transmission is concerned there is a linkage that shifts the trans from the floor shift, it is a cable that can get bound but this does not sound like the problem you are having.

The internal gears of the tranny are the same between park and neutral with one exception, when you shift into park, a "parking pawl" is applied to the output shaft that keeps it from spinning, thus locking the wheels in place.

It does sound like your parking pawl is either warn to a point that it is barely touching the output shaft, or is not fully engaging, thus why you hear the clicking noise.

The fluid being so low is another problem, you may have a leak somewhere, how many miles?

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

As far as an automatic transmission is concerned there is a linkage that shifts the trans from the floor shift, it is a cable that can get bound but this does not sound like the problem you are having.

The internal gears of the tranny are the same between park and neutral with one exception, when you shift into park, a "parking pawl" is applied to the output shaft that keeps it from spinning, thus locking the wheels in place.

It does sound like your parking pawl is either warn to a point that it is barely touching the output shaft, or is not fully engaging, thus why you hear the clicking noise.

The fluid being so low is another problem, you may have a leak somewhere, how many miles?

80k miles. I checked for leaks after refilling the fluid and didn't see any. I think it just got so low because I did a crappy job of checking the levels.

[ScottS4050]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

Assuming that that gear is worn out, is it irrelevant when it comes to driving, etc? I don't ultimately care about the park on my gear selector, so much as what problems with it might represent. Thanks :)

As long as your parking/emergency brake is working well enough to keep the car from rolling, you could probably drive the car forever without 'Park' without any adverse effects (that's assuming there isn't another underlying problem.)

I would recommend taking it to a tranny shop and getting their advise (of course they will tell you to fix it.)

[whitdog54]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

driving a 4l60e low on fluid for just a couple miles can be catastrophic. keep the fluid level where it needs to be be, go for a drive. If it doesnt return to normal...then going to a shop is your best bet

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

As long as your parking/emergency brake is working well enough to keep the car from rolling, you could probably drive the car forever without 'Park' without any adverse effects (that's assuming there isn't another underlying problem.)

I would recommend taking it to a tranny shop and getting their advise (of course they will tell you to fix it.)

There's one minor problem... The trans shifting into Park is required to pull the key out of the ignition... While you can turn it off safely in Nuetral, it won't allow the key to come out.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Parking Gear Won't Engage :-\

There's one minor problem... The trans shifting into Park is required to pull the key out of the ignition... While you can turn it off safely in Nuetral, it won't allow the key to come out.

Wrong. Only the gear selector needs to be in Park to get the key out. Transmission doesn't even have to be in the car and makes no difference.