Too hard for vw techs, nobody knows how to change shiftlock solenoid

[juanche77]

I've been trying to remove old solenoid (since it was getting stuck on parking during cold weather) but no tech seem to know how to get it out....there's no room for a wrench to get to the little screws under the solenoid itself.
Do you know anything about it?????

[veedubmechanic]

havent replaced one on a 98 budy style before, but if its like the new body style you need to remove it from under the car. ( you can get it out w.o going under the car but need to break off one of the bolts that holds the shifter case bracket down)

[jgattian]

On my daughter's 98 Jetta GLS (automatic transmission) when this happened I ended up cutting off a 1/2" piece of the plastic interlock with a small pair if metal snips. This is the part that the solenoid engages to lock the shifter. It has a return spring attached to it. The interlock failed twice. Once for my wife and once for my daughter. All trouble shooting on the wiring checked out good so I decided to do the 'redneck' fix. You now do not have to put on the brakes to shift from park. The gear selection safety interlock still works, that is to say you can not shift to reverse from drive without pressing in the side button on the shift knob.

[juanche77]

I did go under the car. As you said on this model you can see (from the top) that the shift structure is held by two flat head bolts. However when I went under the car all I see in that area is the exhaust pipe. What I don't understand is why the German manufacturer would make it so difficult to change such a little sensitive item??
Since nobody seems to know how to do this I think I'm gonna end up doing the "redneck" thing and cut that plastic blocker off.

[veedubmechanic]

or just disconnect the electrical connector