OMG help! Transmission is locked... Sorry, I'm such a n00b ;_;

I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Mandy

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
| newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
| the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
| it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
| fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
| some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
| driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
| someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
| help is greatly appreciated!
|
| Thanks,
| Mandy
|

Foot on brake before turning the key?

If it starts fine, then it doesn't sound like a theft prevention system. If
it is left in "park" on an incline with out the parking break applied it can
apply a lot of stress on the transmission making it difficult to move out
of park. Even a slight incline can apply enough stress to make it difficult
to shift For what it's worth, I hate it when some one drives my car and
doesn't set the parking break, even on a level surface.

Or...most modern vehicles won't let you shift out of park without the break
pedal depressed.


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
> newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
> the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
> it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
> fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
> some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
> driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
> someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
> help is greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
> Mandy
>

LOL, I'm not THAT big a n00b! XD Of course my foot is on the brake when
I'm trying to shift. I'm aware of the incline thing as well, but it's
not an issue here. It's just parked in my usual parking spot--no
incline, and I've never had a problem with it there before. I'd driven
it in and out of that spot several times that day with no trouble.
Thanks for trying to help, though! <3

Ed H. wrote:
> If it starts fine, then it doesn't sound like a theft prevention system. If
> it is left in "park" on an incline with out the parking break applied it can
> apply a lot of stress on the transmission making it difficult to move out
> of park. Even a slight incline can apply enough stress to make it difficult
> to shift For what it's worth, I hate it when some one drives my car and
> doesn't set the parking break, even on a level surface.
>
> Or...most modern vehicles won't let you shift out of park without the break
> pedal depressed.
>
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
> > newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
> > the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
> > it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
> > fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
> > some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
> > driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
> > someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
> > help is greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mandy
> >

On 6 Nov 2006 17:05:11 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
>newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
>the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
>it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
>fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
>some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
>driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
>someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
>help is greatly appreciated!
>
>Thanks,
>Mandy


If you cannot move the shifter, there is a toggle in the key cylinder
socket that has to be activated to allow shifter to move. If it is
not, you will not be able to move shifter. Check it and the ctrol
cable between ignition and and shifter.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

I miss-read your original post, I though you wrote you got the Vitara the
other day, not you got _in_ the Vitara and hence it was a new vehicle for
you. One little word changes the whole meaning of a sentence. I quess
you've had it for a while and have been driving it regularly. Didn't mean
to insult you. My only other suggestion is that there may be worn or damaged
components in the linkage. Hopefully it's not in the transmission itself.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> LOL, I'm not THAT big a n00b! XD Of course my foot is on the brake when
> I'm trying to shift. I'm aware of the incline thing as well, but it's
> not an issue here. It's just parked in my usual parking spot--no
> incline, and I've never had a problem with it there before. I'd driven
> it in and out of that spot several times that day with no trouble.
> Thanks for trying to help, though! <3
>
> Ed H. wrote:
>> If it starts fine, then it doesn't sound like a theft prevention system.
>> If
>> it is left in "park" on an incline with out the parking break applied it
>> can
>> apply a lot of stress on the transmission making it difficult to move
>> out
>> of park. Even a slight incline can apply enough stress to make it
>> difficult
>> to shift For what it's worth, I hate it when some one drives my car and
>> doesn't set the parking break, even on a level surface.
>>
>> Or...most modern vehicles won't let you shift out of park without the
>> break
>> pedal depressed.
>>
>>
>> <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
>> > newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
>> > the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
>> > it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
>> > fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
>> > some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
>> > driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
>> > someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
>> > help is greatly appreciated!
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Mandy
>> >
>

check the fuse for the brake lights too.
doug


On 6 Nov 2006 17:05:11 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
>newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
>the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
>it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
>fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
>some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
>driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
>someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
>help is greatly appreciated!
>
>Thanks,
>Mandy
>

you have to step on the brake pedal before you try to shift out of park
"doug" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> check the fuse for the brake lights too.
> doug
>
>
> On 6 Nov 2006 17:05:11 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>
>>I'm sure this is a horribly annoying question, and I recognize my
>>newbieness and apologize in advance. I got in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara 4x4
>>the other day and it randomly will not come out of park. I had driven
>>it all day with no problems at all, then suddenly, bam! It starts just
>>fine, and I've been told that there is probably a button or switch of
>>some kind that locks down the transmission so that the car cannot be
>>driven without the key, but I can't find the switch anywhere! Can
>>someone please tell me if it actually exists, and if so, where? Any
>>help is greatly appreciated!
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Mandy
>>
>