Re: Push Buttons and Park

Posted by BH On 2014/5/27 9:06:54

DaveB845 -

Sticking in park is something that can occur regardless of whether you have push button or manual select for the Ultramatic. Although the push button system is immune to issues involving external linkage, the condition of the parking gear and pawl and related parts is still in play.

I have a 56 Patrician with manual select that used to get stuck in park (even on seemingly level ground), but now has no park lock at all. However, I have no idea of its prior history; the affected parts could have been damaged under more severe operating conditions under some previous owner.

Then, I have two 56s with push button control: a Patrician, which appears to have previously had the automatic park feature eliminated; and a Caribbean H/T, which retains the automatic park feature, as original.

Neither of these two push button examples has exhibited a problem of getting stuck in park under my ownership. Yet, I can imagine that a prior experience with such a problem might have been grounds for elimination of automatic park feature in the one car (per the confidential bulletin issued no further than Zone offices, STB 56T-25).

Also, my father, who worked as a mechanic in a Packard dealership, purchased a 56 Exec with push button, brand-new, and put nearly 75K on the clock over the course of seven years. He never had a problem with it sticking in park.

I personally like the automatic park feature, but I may someday install some sort of bypass switch on the Carib. While I'd like to restore the feature to the Pat, I want to inspect its parking gear system. However, before I do that, I should repair the lost parking lock on the manual select car (so I know what to look for).

Mind you, the problem of sticking in park is not exclusive to Packard or even that period in automotive history. In fact, Chrysler had problems with their FWD transaxles getting stuck in park, especially in minivans, back in the '80s - typically when parked on a grade.

As such, I try to make it a point to apply the parking brake in ANY vehicle, when parking on a slope.