car question....cannot change gears.

[Semidevil]

so my dad handed me down a 1991 mazda for me to use, which was really nice of him. Yesterday morning, I prepared to go to work, and I could not change gears. I dont know much about cars, so here is my explanation:

My mazda is automatic transmission, and you know, when you want to change gears from P to R, N, or D, you need to push the 'button' in order to slide it down to the next gear. well, that morning, I started my car, pressed my feet on the brake, but when I tried to push the button, the button would not budge. It just wont push in, therefore, I was not able to leave the Park position. engine starts, brakes is fine, the wheel is fine, but the dang button wont push.

that afternoon, after work, I tried again, and it was fine.....however, this morning, it did not work. tonight, it did not work.

any idea on what the problem could be?? any solution? It's a 91 vehicle, so it's not worth much, so I"m not even sure if it is worth to repair if it's gonna cost a lot?

any ideas?

 

[Viperoni]

-Make sure it's completely in park (push the gear selector stick back and forth a couple times)
-Try stepping on the brake pedal while trying to press the button

 

[Vette73]

Brake safety switch sound sliek it is going bad. Maybe the servo that releases the handle also.

need to check both or replace them.

 

[spidey07]

wiggle the key

 

[Dobbs]

by any chance do you park on an incline?
Had a friend with a "toyondza" (general import car) that used to get the button stuck alot. He lived and worked on a hill, no lie, drove from one side of town to the other and spent his days and nights between two hills. Anyways, when putting the car into park and releasing the break, the car would always put pressure onto the transmission. He had figured out, after repeated trips to the transmission shop, that when he did not park on an incline, the button did not stick.
Sounded ok to me since I drive old cars that randomly are missing teeth off the flywheel and I have to manualy move the car up or backwards a few inch's so the starter can engage. Regardless, have it looked into because a transmission is a costly replacment. Maybe ask your Dad when the last time the transmission was serviced and go from there.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

sounds like a glitchy interlock. on my jeep theres a solenoid under the dash someplace that pulls on a cable when the brake is pushed and shift button pushed. if it was me i'd figure out how the stupid safety interlock works and then i'd remove it.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Brake safety switch sound sliek it is going bad. Maybe the servo that releases the handle also.

need to check both or replace them.

That's what I was going to say.

 

[thomsbrain]

interlock FTL. lucky for you, they are easy to rip out, and COMPLETELY unnecessary. remove the interior console covering the shifter (probably just that whole big console piece), and the interlock should be fairly obvious based on what it is connected to (it has a pokey bit that makes something block the shifter's path. the button generally causes the shifter's guide to move downwards out of a slot, and afterwards it can move backwards or forwards like usual. removing the interlock causes you to always be able to push the button, regardless of whether or not you are on the brake. just remember to use the brake anyway, like a good boy.

BTW, I removed mine for the exact same reason. it's like the appendix of the car.