4 Major Symptoms Of a Bad Shift Interlock Solenoid

The interlock locks in when you shift from drive or switch to park. To move out of the stop once more, you must press down on the brake. That contributes to the switch’s wear and tear (because it’s both mechanical and electrical, there’s a chance for disappointment).

While the interlock is expected to last the life of your car, this is not always the case, which is why you need to know the symptoms of a bad or failing shift interlock solenoid. Well, in this reading, we’ll be exploring the four major symptoms of a bad shift interlock solenoid.

Symptoms Of a Bad Shift Interlock Solenoid

If you notice your vehicle will not shift out of park, you are skipping gear, you experience delay while shifting gears or your battery goes dead, you should know there might be something wrong with your car’s shift interlock solenoid.

The Vehicle Will Not Shift Out of Park: If the shift interlock solenoid has gone bad, the vehicle will not shift out of the park, even with your foot on the brake pedal. You won’t be able to drive your car anywhere, which is a significant concern. The majority of cars include a shifter release in case this happens.

Skipping gears: Another thing you could notice is that your car skips to the next gear when it has trouble engaging some gears. This is a clear sign that there is an issue with the transmission shift solenoid. Every gear in your vehicle has one or more shift solenoids; if one is damaged, the vehicle will not shift into that gear. It will instead shift straight to the next gear.

Shifting delays: Shifting delays are often caused by poor maintenance or high mileage, which can lead to transmission fluid not being changed often enough or at the correct level. This can result in the fluid being unable to protect vital components. When you notice a delay, check the transmission fluid for level, color, and smell.

Low fluid level, dark color, or a rancid smell indicates a problem, and the vehicle should be taken to a service shop immediately. A fluid flush may not solve the problem if the fluid has reached this point. Slow shifting may also be caused by shift solenoid issues detected by the transmission control unit, affecting both upshifting and downshifting.

Dead Car Battery: If your vehicle isn’t moving out of the park, a dead battery could be the reason for that. This is usually a simple thing you can check before contacting any automotive specialist. If your car won’t start at all, none of the lights work, and none of the electrical components are functioning, it’s likely a dead battery issue rather than a problem with the shift interlock solenoid.

Botton Line: If you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms of a bad shift interlock solenoid and are unsure how to diagnose it yourself, it’s time to take your car for repair. that is all for this article, i hope it was helpful, if so, kindly share with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!