Re: Push Buttons and Park

Posted by Leeedy On 2014/5/27 9:35:59

There are a few points to remember here and these are never-ever mentioned whenever this subject comes up:

1.) Packard had one of the first automatic transmissions with a "PARK" setting. Others just had "NEUTRAL" and that was that. Packard's "PARK" position feature on the transmission was something of a novelty when it first appeared.

2.) ALL automatic transmissions with a "PARK" setting tend to bind in that position when left parked on an incline (such as a hill). This condition becomes worse if the PARK pawl is somehow damaged or out of spec. Got news for ya... this even happens on modern Japanese cars... ask me how I know.

3.) V8 Packards with Ultramatic did indeed tend to stick in park under certain conditions and this usually had zero to do with the 1956 pushbutton Ultramatic. 1955 AND 1956 versions with selector lever tended to APPEAR to stick in PARK because of transmission selector/kickdown linkage being out of spec. This allowed it to drop into what I call the "football straight-arm position" where the linkage basically dropped into what amounted to a straight line and there was no longer possibility of elbow action. I have actually seen selector levers bent around into the shape of a letter "J" by people who decided they were going to King-Kong the durned thing into submission! By the way... when this happens on a selector lever car, all you need do is reach under the driver's side and firmly push UP on the linkage (using care not to touch hot exhaust pipe). It usually pops right out (also be sure to have your parking brake engaged first!). The 1956 control arm on the trans is as a different angle and attempted to remedy this condition. Anyway there were factory bulletins issued on these matters.

4.) The 1956 Auto-Park Pushbutton feature is never recognized today for what it really was in 1956: the first factory-installed electronic anti-theft feature. One of the biggest mistakes ever was the misunderstanding (that persists to this day) of this system. Owners who didn't read their O/M and tow truck drivers, valets, parking attendents and others somehow got the notion that these cars could be moved without the engine running or ignition key in "ON" position. They would jump in... press "N" and the car would remain in "PARK"... to which they would reply..."Durned thing is stuck in PARK!" THIS started a rumor that was not true... all based on total misunderstanding of the purpose and operation of automatic PARK. A thief could hotwire the car and maybe start the engine, but unless that ignition key switch was in the "ON" position... the trans was going to remain in PARK. With the key off, you can press buttons all day long and it is not going to come out of PARK. THat's that.

5.) Let's face it... pushbuttons on these old cars are OLD and quite likely to be worn or not working precisely after all these years. Even brand -new electronic stuff goes out of whack. So consider the age and tolerances of what was a totally new feature in 1956. And remember, this is 2014. The late Joe Clayton, who owned more pushbutton Ultramatics than anyone I've ever known (and I've known a lot) had his own technique for preventing pushbutton selector malfunctions. Even with worn contact fingers and weak actuator motors from going bonkers and bending a finger. His technique was simple and I have used it for 40 years without a problem: to prevent over-runs and bent contact fingers on old systems, rather than go directly to or from "PARK"...always go to "NEUTRAL" first... pause...then go to "PARK". His reasoning (which has worked well for me too) is that the pie-shaped contact segment has less tendency to over-run with it is traveling a shorter distance. Just like a speeding car takes more to stop. Right or wrong, Joe's method has always worked for me. And we are talking over a lot of years and a lot of cars.

Of course, the rule with any automatic is always be at a dead stop when engaging PARK... and avoid using PARK when parking on steep hills as a substitute for the parking brake. In a place like San Francisco, it is wise to turn your front wheels (left uphill...right downhill) to chock them against the curb...and engage your emergency/parking brake first...then place your transmission selector in PARK. Saves the PARK pawl and aggravation and angst (and your right arm) in disengaging PARK.

Offered for what it's worth...