Volvo » S40 » 2001 Volvo S40 » Questions

Q&A

Ask Your Question

2001 Volvo S40

 

Question: brake pedal and gear shift?

Question

indigogal, 1.9L 4 Cylinder Turbo, Woodstock, GA, February 16, 2010, 08:24
 Rookie

What I thought was a problem with my gear shift button sticking actually seems to be tied to the brakes. The brake pads themselves look good. My gear shift won't unlock until I've pumped the brakes a few times, and my brake light itself comes on and off randomly. Any ideas?

1 Answer
Answer It
Flag This

  • Answer #1

    Bret Bodas from RepairPal Test Shop, February 16, 2010, 08:37
     Master

    There is a shift-lock feature on your vehicle that prevents you from putting the transmission into gear until you put your foot on the brake pedal. When you step on your brakes, the brake light switch sends a signal to the brake lights and to the shift lock system, this signal is used to "un-lock" the shift lock so you can take it out of gear. So, if the brake light switch is not working properly, your shift lock will not work as well as your brake lights.

    Flag This

  • Reply

    indigogal, February 16, 2010, 08:45
     Rookie

    So what kind of repair am I looking at? A sensor for the brake light? Any ideas what something like this will run? Most of the mechanics around here charge a diagnostic fee just to look at the vehicle, I just want to guage how much this is going to cost me before I take it in. Thanks!

    Flag This

  • Reply

    Bret Bodas, February 16, 2010, 08:55
     Master

    Your going to have to pay a diagnostic fee, and that will run about an hour. This should be enough to diagnose and repair the problem if it is the brake light switch. The switch will run around $40.00 if it needs to be replaced.

    Reply
    Flag This
Answer Ranks

This week's top 10

1 globalhelper 6 csubak30
2 pushrod 7 FREDDY BLUE
3 ziptie12 8 gearhead89
4 ChevyASE 9 ebans777
5 wenyan 10 tdtoolbox