What causes the P gear to get stuck in the Besturn B50 automatic transmission?
3 Answers
Here are the specific reasons why the P gear in the Besturn B50 automatic transmission may get stuck: 1. Cold weather: Difficulty in shifting gears due to cold weather is a normal phenomenon. After starting the cold engine and driving for a while, the transmission warms up, making gear shifting easier. 2. Damaged gear teeth: The positioning components of the gearshift lever's ball joint lose functionality, allowing the lever to rotate freely around its axis and making it difficult to accurately control the gear. 3. Worn spherical working surface: The spherical working surface at the lower end of the gearshift lever wears out, preventing the lever from controlling the fork or the shifting groove, making it impossible to engage or disengage gears.
My B50 once had a stuck P gear issue. The mechanic said shift mechanism failure is the most common cause. Automatic transmission's P gear release requires brake signal coordination - if the brake switch fails, pressing the brake won't help and the gear lever gets locked. Sometimes improper parking on slopes (engaging P gear without firmly pulling handbrake) causes gear jamming when the car rolls slightly. There's also the issue of aging gear solenoids - this problem occurs frequently in older Besturn vehicles. Mechanical parts can jam if contaminated with sand or rust - last time cleaning dust from the shift mechanism fixed it. In emergencies, try stomping the brake pedal hard several times. If that doesn't work, call a tow truck - forcing the gear lever may damage the transmission.
Veteran drivers of the Besturn B50 remind you that there are usually two situations to be most vigilant about when the P gear gets stuck. First is an electrical circuit issue, such as a short circuit in the brake light switch or poor relay contact, preventing the signal from reaching the transmission control module. Second is mechanical jamming, where the shift mechanism's cable is misaligned or lacks lubrication. Once, in winter temperatures below minus ten degrees Celsius, I encountered a frozen gear lever and had to use a hot air blower for half an hour to loosen it. Always ensure the brake is fully depressed before shifting gears when starting, and remember to engage the handbrake before shifting to P gear when parking on a slope. Although this fault won't leave the car stranded, it can be really inconvenient when it suddenly occurs. It's recommended to visit a repair shop to check for fault codes.
