I have an 03' Jetta, on occasion when I am unlucky, I can't get it out of park! It locks and fails to budge.. When it shifts gears it runs fine. My car also makes a sound like it is going to curl up in a fetal position and die every once in a blue moon, but it runs alright. What could be causing this? Is it the most annoying thing in the world? Will this cost me my first born? Should I be worried about any other problems? HELP!

 

Do you have a EPC light come on? Do you notice your brake lights not working? There is that common problem where the brakes light switch will malfuntion and your car will not know that your pressing the brake and will not allow you to shift out of park. To test that theory check your brake lights. If you need to drive it try to put your key in the first position, move shifter to neutral, start it in neutral, then shift to your gear. Check your transmission fluid as well, if that's low I wouldn't drive it. If it is a trasmission problem then I can't offer any advice.

 

My EPC light is not on..My brake lights work just fine.. My transmission fluid levels seem to be just fine.. I think my car is planning a vendetta.. Thanks for the advice!!!

 

The it sounds to be your shift lock solenoid.

I found this related post for you. Credit goes to PanEroupean on the VWvortex forums.


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There is an electrical solenoid located beneath the shift lever assembly that 'locks' the transmission shift lever in the PARK position unless the engine in running and the brake pedal is depressed. The formal name for this part is 'N376 Ignition Switch Key Lock Solenoid'. This lock serves two purposes, first is anti-theft, and second is child safety - the shift lever cannot be moved out of PARK unless an adult is pressing the brake pedal at the same time. My guess is that the big metal locking pin that comprises the only moving part of this solenoid is sticking - for some reason, it is not fully retracting into the electro-magnet.
I will provide you with all the information you need to troubleshoot and resolve this problem, however, there is also a (less likely) possibility that the problem is caused by a pawl, located way down in the transmission itself, not releasing from the gear that it engages to actually prevent the car from rolling away when you put the shift lever in park. If you are parking your car on an inclined surface (i.e. nose or tail of the car is pointing uphill), then check to see if the problem goes away when the car is parked on a flat surface. If the problem exists when the car is parked on a flat surface, then it is most likely the Ignition Switch Key Lock Solenoid, not the pawl in the transmission itself. If the problem exists when the car is parked on an inclined surface, then it might be the pawl in the transmission that is sticking, not the safety solenoid on the shift lever.
Another way of troubleshooting to eliminate the transmission locking pawl as a possible suspect is to do the following:
1) Drive the car into the desired parking position.
2) With the car still in gear (forward or reverse, does not matter), engage the foot-operated parking brake.
3) Remove your other foot from the main brake pedal. The car will probably move one inch or so forward or backward.
4) When the car stops moving, THEN put the transmission shift lever in PARK.
The next morning, start the car, and move the transmission lever out of PARK before releasing the parking brake. If you find it is really easy to move the transmission lever out of PARK when you follow the five steps listed above, then the problem is with the pawl in the transmission itself. If you still have difficulty moving the shift lever out of PARK, then the problem is most likely with the Ignition Switch Key Lock Solenoid, not the actual transmission. Below you will find a picture that shows where the N376 Ignition Switch Key Lock Solenoid is located. It is easy to get at this part. Just follow the dis-assembly instructions shown on the Retrofitting Keyless Start to North American Phaetons post, then, with the engine running, see if the locking pin moves freely and completely in and out of the solenoid when you put your foot on the brake, and see if it freely and easily slides back out (into the locked position) when you take your foot off the brake. If there is any binding or hesitation in the movement of the locking pin, look for evidence of something that would be interfering with the free movement of the pin - for example, spilled Coke or coffee, a cable in the way, a dust-ball, or similar. I don't think it is normally necessary to lubricate this pin, and VW does not specify a lubricant, but you could probably give it a light dusting of powdered graphite, just to ensure it moves freely. At the same time, have a look to make sure there is no damage or evidence of binding to the opening in the shift lever assembly that the locking pin fits into when you have the shift lever assembly in PARK."