car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...
 

i am a noob on this site and i am extremely frustrated b/c the car turns on, but it takes me sooooo long to get the damn gear swticher out of park..it doesnt happen every time, but it has happened that i have stayed 15-20 minutes until i put it in reverse, drive, etc....why could it be stuck in park? something is definitely broken but what could it be?

thanks in advcance to all

by the way it's a 2003 jetta 1.8, automatic, Gasoline

RE: car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...
 

Sounds like your solenoid for the safety switch is gone, or the wiring to it is not making a good connection sometimes. Sounds like a transmission shop visit to me.


-Jeff

RE: car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...
 

I had the same thing happen to me last month. I have a 2000 Jetta. I was at the gas station and I couldn't get the shifter out of park. It turned out to be the brake light switch. Apparently, when I put my foot on the brake pedal the brake lights weren't coming on. If the brake lights on the back of the car don't come on then the computer doesn't know that you have the brake pedal pressed. It's a safety feature. If you haven't solved your problem, I hope this helps.

RE: car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...
 

yeah, it was the brake light switch, as suggested here...

Thanks for your help! :)

RE: car starts, but Gear switcher is stuck in Park...
 

No problem. Glad I could be of help.