Shift Interlock Problem

I have a 2000 2.0 New Beetle with an automatic. It's equipped with an intelock that prevents placing the car in gear unless your foot is on the brake. This has begun to become intermittent and work about half the time. I know there is a solenoid for this but is there also a switch actuated by the brake pedal? Anyone else have this problem? Also, this particular car isn't the greatest for fuel efficiency. Is this typical? any help is appreciated. Thanks.

There is a solenoid at the shifter that is activated by the brake pedal switch. If your brake light aren't working propery either then it's the switch. Often you can hear the solenoid attempting to pull the lock pin, but it sticks. Going in & lubricating the pin often works in your intermittent circumstance.

I have this problem as well. Do you know how to lubricate the solenoid or where it is? Is it something easy to do? I'm not a car person, but if it is easy enough, between my husband and I, I'm sure we can do it. We don't want to pay an arm and a leg at a dealer if it is something we can handle.

I took the center console out to get to the solenoid. Prior to that the solenoid was engaging about 1 out of 10 times. Now the brake light is not working at all. I'd like to check the fuse but the manual doesn't have a fuse guide. Is the brake switch difficult to get to and change? Does anyone have a decent fuse breakdown? Even my Haynes manual doesn't have a fuse pictorial. Are these parts expensive? Thanks to boschmann for the info on the switch!

The brake light switch activates the shift lock solenoid. If the switch is bad the solenoid will not activate and car wont come out of park. There is a recall for brake light switches.
If the switch is ok then the solenoid will need to be replaced.

I think you can get to the brake switch from underneath the brake. Lie on the floor and look up at the brake and from there you can see the switch. Where is the solenoid? I think my problem lies within the brake switch because the brake lights only work sometimes, and the shift problem only works sometimes.... VeeDubmechanic says there is a recall????? Where can we find out more?

If the brake lights workk intermittently it's he switch. NHTSA is your most accurate source on recalls;

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm

The New Beetle recall is NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 03V265000

Call your dealer and give them your VIN number and they can check for recalls.