Locking the Gear Selector of an Automatic Transmission (AT)
An automatic transmission’s gear selector lock is a mechanism that prevents the gear selector from being shifted unless certain conditions are met. For example, the engine must be running and the vehicle must be in park or neutral.
Purpose of gear selector lock:
* Prevent accidental gear shifting while the vehicle is moving.
* Protect the transmission from damage caused by shifting into gear without pressing the brake pedal.
* Hold the vehicle in place when it is parked, even if the parking brake is not applied.
How the gear selector lock works:
The gear selector lock usually consists of two components:
*Mechanical Interlock: This part is a physical barrier that prevents the gear selector from moving unless certain conditions are met. Typically the mechanical lock is located on the gear selector itself.
*Electronic control system: This part controls the mechanical interlock by receiving signals from various sensors in the vehicle. For example, the gear selector position sensor, the brake pedal position sensor and the vehicle speed sensor.
To remove the gear selector lock, you must perform the following steps:
1. Press the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine (some vehicles do not require this).
3. Make sure the gear selector is in park or neutral.
4. Move the gear selector to the desired position.
If the gear selector lock does not clear, it may be a sign of a problem with the mechanical or electronic control system. In this case, you must contact a qualified mechanic for diagnosis and repair.