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Difficulty shifting out of Park

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I know this was one of those weird sporadic events, because it’s workibg fine now. But I am traveling towing the 5er and backed into an RV Park space. When we went to leave the next morning, I could not get the thing out of Park! Strangest thing! After turning the truck off and restarting it, it still would not budge, then out of the blue, it was fine. Gremlins???
 
Larry....
Here is my story and post from 11/18.

Been having a problem, on and off for about a year getting my CTD out of "Park" after a start up. This started happening maybe about a year ago and would occur maybe 2 or 3 times out of 10 start ups. Now it is occurring about 9 out of ten times after starting the truck. "Fiddling" with the transmission shift level, on-off-on the foot brake, setting and re-releasing the Parking brake and or turning the truck off and restarting it eventually it would allow the transmission to be shifted out of Park.
At NO time during any of these occurrences was there any bind on the transmission. I always let the drivetrain relax, no forward/rearward strain, transmission in Neutral, prior to setting the parking brake and then shifting into Park.
I've called my local worthless Dealer several times asking if the BTSI could be causing this, always the same "don't know" answer. Watching and reading ALL BTSI posting's on TDR's website never gave me a definitive answer as to whether or not this could be another issue of a faulty BTSI system, in addition to the "roll away" hazard.
This morning the local worthless Dealer called me and said my 2012 RAM CTD is now subject of the BTSI recall. Problem is NO PARTS to correct, I am on the list, estimated 2-4 weeks. Also asked if this will take care of transmission getting stuck in Park, short answer "they don't know".
Question to the Forum: Has anyone else experienced this same issue and does the BTSI recall solve the problem?

Thanks in Advance to the Forum for the help.


~C
 
And here is the answer I provided to the FORUM 1/2019.

UPDATE BTSI RECALL COMPLETED! transmission SMOOTHLY SHIFTS OUT OF PARK!!
Well the 4 hours for the forecasted for BTSI recall turned into an ALL Day Sucker, but that's another story.
BTSI Recall completed and the CTD 68RFE smoothly shifts out of Park as it should! NO MORE NEED TO USE EMERGENGENCY PROCEDURE to get the transmission out of Park.
Thanks once again to Catcherman for the heads up on making sure they follow the Recall procedure to the letter! I was very insistent on making sure they followed the procedure.
When I took it in and left it, Service Advisor (Young enough to be my grandkid) told me that the BTSI RECALL probably WOULD NOT solve my issue. I detailed it out for him and told him when I walked out, "I bet it will".
When I picked it up, I asked the Service Advisor did you drive it? Answer: Yes Q: Does transmission come out of Park as it should Answer: Yes
Now let me try. Start CTD with Service Advisor standing along side drivers window, smoothly shift 69RFE into drive, look at Service Advisor smile, laugh a little and say "Gee, how about that? Have a nice weekend, CYA Later, Bye"
Before driving away I said, "Look up Akums Razor" and learn to bet the "Come Line"
Thanks Again to Catcherman and the Forum!
~Chad
 
Larry,
It would be nice to know the specifics on your truck. Especially the Vehicle year and transmission.
Mine is a 2012 2500 CC with a 68 RFE.

As an Emergency measure, in your owners manual there is a section that covers 'Unlocking" the transmission when "Stuck" in PARK. Small screwdriver, inserted gently up into the steering column bottom hole you will feel a slight spring loaded resistance. Depress gently, move shifter to Neutral, start truck and shift normally to Drive or Reverse, and continue driving.

Sounds to me if you are experiencing this and if your truck was subject of the Recall and it wasn't done, this could be the issue. If it was done it may be improperly adjusted, failing again or the BTSI needs replacing.
****One Note: I understand when the dealer does the BTSI Recall or replacement, there is a step by step procedure that must be followed. If any steps are short cut or not completed you will possibly end back in the same situation.

~Chad
 
You have to put it in neutral, apply parking brake, THEN shift into park.

You will NEVER have a problem disengaging from park again.
 
Larry,
It would be nice to know the specifics on your truck. Especially the Vehicle year and transmission.

Mine is a 2012 2500 CC with a 68 RFE.

As an Emergency measure, in your owners manual there is a section that covers 'Unlocking" the transmission when "Stuck" in PARK. Small screwdriver, inserted gently up into the steering column bottom hole you will feel a slight spring loaded resistance. Depress gently, move shifter to Neutral, start truck and shift normally to Drive or Reverse, and continue driving.

Sounds to me if you are experiencing this and if your truck was subject of the Recall and it wasn't done, this could be the issue. If it was done it may be improperly adjusted, failing again or the BTSI needs replacing.
****One Note: I understand when the dealer does the BTSI Recall or replacement, there is a step by step procedure that must be followed. If any steps are short cut or not completed you will possibly end back in the same situation.

~Chad

You are correct. 2016 CTD 4x4 CC SB 68rfe
 
You have to put it in neutral, apply parking brake, THEN shift into park.

You will NEVER have a problem disengaging from park again.

SAP,
I was practicing this and have all my life with the automatics that I have owned.
In my original post from 11/2018 I thought I made that clear, no matter. The stuck in Park just got progressively worse until the BTSI was completed.
I hope OP's problems have been solved or at minimized until further investigation can be done and that the Emergency Procedure in the owners manual as outlined above will save him heartache.
~C
 
SAP,
I was practicing this and have all my life with the automatics that I have owned.
In my original post from 11/2018 I thought I made that clear, no matter. The stuck in Park just got progressively worse until the BTSI was completed.
I hope OP's problems have been solved or at minimized until further investigation can be done and that the Emergency Procedure in the owners manual as outlined above will save him heartache.
~C

Some folks can’t follow along like most of us.
 
Chad....thank you for all the information and your sharing your experience. I have had all the recalls done on this truck. I know they did one for the transmission, just don't remember if it was the BTSI. Currently and for the last 600 miles....(we are traveling) it has not been a problem. I hate intermittent problems. Is it my understanding that if the procedure was not done correctly, this could happen again?
 
Larry,
Here's a quote from Catcherman, from my original post back in 2018, regarding his 2013. Apparently if the recall procedure is NOT carried out step by step and any short cuts are taken, or steps skipped, it can occur again. It saved me grief, because when I took it in for the BTSI I made sure to explain to the Service Adviser that the recall needs to be followed to the letter.
Since mine was done in January I have had ZERO problems, period.
That's not to say that maybe they didn't install an off the shelf BTSI that might have been in the original recall in your CTD (defective) and it may be failing again or possibly they skipped a step or it may just be out of adjustment (not locked down) on the recall.

I do know this, once it starts it's progressively gets worse. That's what mine did.
~Chad

I had the same problem with my 2013 3500 and had the recall done, still had the problem. I took it back and they did some software change that they said was part of the recall, no problem since. The service manager said right off when I described the problem that the recall would cure it, she was right!
 
Just thought I would chime in here and back up what Chad said. I took mine in to get the recall done and the service manager said the recall would correct the "Park" issue. When I had to go to work the next morning it stuck in Park again and I panicked! Called her up and she said bring it right in so I did and she had the service tech redo the recall and I haven't had a problem since. What I am getting is at it might take a couple of times with the recall before it is corrected.
 
Thank you Catcherman! Understand. Only hope I can get back before this happens on the road. But there are RAM dealers everywhere. Next state North Dakota, then Montana, then south. Keeping my fingers crossed .
 
Just thought I would chime in here and back up what Chad said. I took mine in to get the recall done and the service manager said the recall would correct the "Park" issue. When I had to go to work the next morning it stuck in Park again and I panicked! Called her up and she said bring it right in so I did and she had the service tech redo the recall and I haven't had a problem since. What I am getting is at it might take a couple of times with the recall before it is corrected.

THANKS CATCHERMAN FOR CHIMING IN ONCE AGAIN! You helped me out the first time and thanks again for the heads up!
~Chad
 
Thank you Catcherman! Understand. Only hope I can get back before this happens on the road. But there are RAM dealers everywhere. Next state North Dakota, then Montana, then south. Keeping my fingers crossed .

Larry just remember, you always have the EMERGENCY PROCEDURE to fall back on! If you use the procedure it has NO ILL EFFECTS on anything except eliminating the annoyance (and preventing any damage by trying to force it). You could use it every time you start the truck if you had to, ALL the way back to home if you had to. NO WORRIES

Hope we helped. Happy, Safe and Enjoyable Travels!!!!!!!
~Chad
 
Larry just remember, you always have the EMERGENCY PROCEDURE to fall back on! If you use the procedure it has NO ILL EFFECTS on anything except eliminating the annoyance (and preventing any damage by trying to force it). You could use it every time you start the truck if you had to, ALL the way back to home if you had to. NO WORRIES

Hope we helped. Happy, Safe and Enjoyable Travels!!!!!!!
~Chad
Thanks Chad......noted!!!
 
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