Car fix question

Justwar

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2002
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I know nothing about cars but my car has trouble getting out of park unless I jiggle with the steering wheel into a certain position. My fiancee spilled tea in the console so I'm thinking that's the problem but I have no idea what I'm doing to fix this. Anyone have a fairly easy explanation?
 

UKserialkiller

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Dec 13, 2009
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I know nothing about cars but my car has trouble getting out of park unless I jiggle with the steering wheel into a certain position. My fiancee spilled tea in the console so I'm thinking that's the problem but I have no idea what I'm doing to fix this. Anyone have a fairly easy explanation?

Stick it in a bag of rice. That should fix it.
 

Kaizer Sosay

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Nov 29, 2007
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Takeaways:

If you're gonna date a girl dumb enough to serve tea to your car...then make sure you drive a British car. And make sure she serves the tea at the correct time of day.

Or buy an American made car that is tough enough to handle a little spilt drank.
 

Crushgroove

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Oct 11, 2014
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Probably a positional detent in the shifter relative to brake pedal/steering wheel position. If you can see that little tab in the corner of the cover plate on the shifter that looks like it's covering something (usually the size of a nickle), pry that sucker up with a flathead (wrapped in electrical tape so you don't scrath the cover), unfasten the fastener under it, remove the cover plate and start cleaning with some electrical spray cleaner type something.

I mean, I reckon. Get the cover off and just have a look first.

Also that black, sectioned, sliding cover band that sits at the base of the shifter handle to cover the hole in the floor can get all gummed up, too, and cause all kinds of trouble.
 

DSmith21

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Mar 27, 2012
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Leave the keys in the ignition and the car unlocked in any low income neighborhood. Report stolen and buy a better car. Get rid of girlfriend unless she is really DTF and good at it.
 
Feb 24, 2017
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I will give some advice. I recommend taking a look at it, but DO NOT take the shifter mechanism apart. If it's anything like the one I took apart a few years ago, it has more frigging pieces than you could ever put back together successfully. If it's the actual mechanism that's gummed up, find a replacement. That thing is full of little electrical contacts that control the back up lights, enable and disable the ignition, etc.
 

MdWIldcat55

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2007
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You don't have a car problem. You have a fiancee problem.

Just to be safe, get rid of both.
 

bigbluefattycat

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Oct 5, 2005
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Hot tea bag her console while she is in park tonight. Jiggle her steering wheel with your hands starting at a 10 to 2 position until you reach 6 to 9.