Thank you so much for this video, I was trying to figure out how to get it out with out taking apart the steering wheel to see if I could clean something but didn't realize the shape of the connector at the end would not allow me to just pull it out.
You are correct I could not find a single video on how to do this so thanks for making this. That Vic needs a wash and some fresh paint for the wheels.
I wonder if a guy could break the plastic bottom off of the solenoid, and let the pin inside fall out? It might be a safety issue as you wouldn't have to depress the brake pedal to shift out of park, but older cars didn't have the solenoid, and somehow people survived. lol
Lol that's what I'm wondering. I jus had a mechanic do mine and he was like " man u know u can save some money by just taking that part off. I mean u know how to drive hell.." 😅 I hope it works out for me
The answer is no. The armature is inserted from the top of the assembly, and it has a narrow stem that extends into the bottom plastic part. In other words, the armature wont fit through the hole in the bottom. That said, if you remove the cover on the bottom, you can remove the spring which lifts the armature. Even if you can't remove the armature, it will be effectively disabled by gravity. Note that there is a rubber bumper washer in the lower compartment above the spring. At least in mine, the rubber rotted into a bunch of black goo. If that's the common cause of the solenoid sticking, then oiling a bad solenoid won't work. I managed to fully disassemble mine and clean out all the goo, but I don't think anybody else would. At first glance, removing the solenoid looks more difficult than it should be, but it doesn't seem that bad. When I did it, it was unreasonably difficult to get the steering wheel and retainer plate off. You know shit's tight when you're bending the wheel with the gear puller. The one dinky torx screw in the retainer wouldn't budge. I eventually stripped it out and had to cut a slot in it for a big screwdriver -- which wouldn't budge it either. With some heat and after breaking off half a dozen bits with the impact, it finally snapped loose. So I guess what I'm saying is if you have luck like mine, just rip the stupid solenoid apart.
@@PSUQDPICHQIEIWCwhat about the silver metal (plastic?) Tab that the uploader depresses in the first few minutes of the video? Any way to permanently keep that tab/button depressed? Edit: 1:15
@@drwombat You either remove the spring out of the bottom, or you find some way to glue it down (which probably won't be reliable since everything will be oily inside). The point behind removing the spring is that you can avoid removing the wheel. Accessing the top of the solenoid requires removing the wheel and everything, so if you're going to go that far, there's no point gluing it down. Just take it out and throw it away.
I had a mechanic tell me I could get by without this thing by just removing it? I find it hard to believe there won't be any side effects persay. Basically as long as u put your foot on the brake before putting it in gear I should be OK....? or no?
@AroundtheFarm hey man this happening with my car but only when it's a little chilly like it was 63° yesterday when it happened. But when its hot out it never happens. My question is, that when it happens to me none of the windows will roll down either. When it's warmer all the windows work fine and same with the shifter. When these two issues with the windows and the interlock happen the only happen at the same time. Is there any reason behind that you might know?
@@cjsnidlio9409 no idea on the windows. But the solenoid I took of seamed to have some grease like substance in it that would thicken and cause it to stick in cooler weather
Thank you for this video. I have a 2007 mercury grand marquis with the same problem. I got the part but wasn't sure if I had to remove the airbag, steering wheel and spiral cable to get to it. I don't have the 2 prong ear puller, so I have to get one. It's been intermittent. So for now I'll just keep using a Phillips screw driver to shift out of park. But thank you for making this video. I liked and subscribed! ❤
Amazing video, my vic has been taking time to shift and sometime wont go into gear. I think this is the issue but i dont have one of those big grapplers(gear puller?) you have. Ill worry about when i get there
There are videos of people removing the steering wheel without a puller. You just start beating and yanking on it after everything is unhooked. I happened to have a puller that worked so I went that route.
I need to replace mine and my worry was that I would have to pull the steering wheel and this video proved that i unfortunately do have to pull the wheel, I have to replace that clock spring anyways.
