DUMAls400

So i go to get into my car and the shifter button will not press in, like its locked. I try to work with it a little bit but no luck, eventually i just get mad and hit it, and it pops in. For some reason it has been giving me this problem quite a bit now. The shift button will get stuck, and i have to force it in. Im not sure what problem could be causing this. The shift lock over ride button next to the shifter got pushed in trying to fix this as well. If anyone has any ideas to what this could be any help would be appreciated

DUMAls400

no one knows ?

GABE_LS400

your center console is moved up a bit, not allowing the knobe to move all the way up so it stay locked. I had the same problem and i took the whole center console apart and adjusted it. Sometimes i couldnt even get my key out of the ignition. I would say pop the hood unscrew the oil cap and drop a screw driver in there. Turn the car on and let the screw driver do it magic. If the motor destroys the screw driver than your good if the motor locks up then get a new motor. I would suggest dropping a 1.6 liter vtec civic motor in there...

BLKonBLK98

my guess would be the linkage in the button area is messed up. i haven't been inside a the ls400 shifter but if you pull the shift **** it should be obvious.

DUMAls400

thanks for your help, ill try taking apart the shift **** tonight and analyze whats going on in there

DUMAls400

i tried to take off the shift **** today by removing the screw attached to it but that didnt seem to get it off

DUMAls400

Anyone else have any other ideas?

JimsGX

This will help you get the shifter off. When you depress the brake, do you hear/feel a clicking sound up by the shifter?

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/body/shifter.html

DUMAls400

No i havent noticed any clicking sound by the shifter. Thanks for the link as well it is very helpful. Im not sure if i removed my shift **** that i'd even know where to begin looking for what may be causing this problem

JimsGX

With your hand on the shifter, you should feel/hear a slight clicking noise by the shifter when the car is in park and you depress the brake. When the brake is depressed, it releases the locking mechanism for the shifter which allows you to take the car out of park.

BLKonBLK98

i like jim's idea better. park safety switch sounds like a much better solution, although it still sounds like you've misaligned some stuff up in the shifter as a result of forcing it.

DUMAls400

so how would i go about replacing the park safety switch? This is also known as a brake switch right?

BLKonBLK98

i actually misworded. the brake safety switch, although different than the park/neutral, is what i meant.

i'm going to bow out because, honestly, this is outside of my experience. hopefully someone else can step in with some help.

do you have a service manual? there are usually diagnostic routines you can perform to isolate problems.

DUMAls400

naw i dont have the service manual, thanks for all your help though, ill probably take the console apart and make sure everything looks like its lining up correctly and what not, then see about how to replace the brake safety switch. thanks

JimsGX

Read down in the attached .pdf for instructions on how to check out the switch on an LS400. I doubt the instructions vary too much between 1st & 2nd gen...