Sorry for the confusing title. I noticed this morning that when my tranny is in Park (engine running) and I depress the brake pedal - that I get a very noticeable click/thud right under the shifter console. I presume the lockout switch is located right at the top end of the shifter handle throw, so I'm wondering if these things actually quit working, or if something may have loosened up. In the past, I think I always heard a faint click, indicating that the 'safety' switch was doing it's job, but it is now very noticeable.

I'll check the shop manual later, but just wanted to know if anyone has experienced an issue with this before. (2001 SR5 4WD V6, 85,000 miles)

Andreas

 

Nudging this back to the top....

Andreas

 

Just a semi-educated guess, but there is probably some type of solenoid in the shifter mechanism that is actuated by the brake pedal signal. Maybe this solenoid has loosened up, and this is causing the noise.

 

mine is pretty quite, can only hear it with the car off.....

 

I blew a fuse in my brakelights one time while towing and it refused to let me go into gear even with the brake applied so I had to manually override it in order to get home and over to the store for a new fuse.

Yes, there is a little solenoid in the center console that prevents shifting gears without the brake being applied. If you take the center console apart (very easy to do, top part just pops off) you can see it work and better pinpoint the reason for why it has been getting progressively louder. We could speculate on why but it would be far easier for you to just see the problem in action. My hunch would be the solenoid is loose or heavily worn but you will know almost right away after watching it work.

 

Thanks for the thoughts. I intend to open it up today and give a gander.

Andreas

 

I get that same very heavy clunk when I park the truck on a hill or any incline situation, parking with the e-brake in situations like that or and releasing in the correct order helps me. If you drop the tranny into reverse or drive, before you release the e-brake eliminates the clunk noise for me. Is this your situation or are you getting that same noise even on level ground?

 

It's not a driveline clunk, as you describe, but a solenoid-type sound that suddendly became very noticeable. Lightly step on the brake pedal with the truck in Park, and a loud "clack" is heard right under the shifter console cover.

Andreas

 

Well, I yanked the trim around the shifter today and found nothing wrong. The little white plunger/solenoid thing does its job properly and nothing is loose. But I know its louder now than ever before. Annoying.

Andreas