# Could a Gear Shifter Cover burn out an ignition solenoid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, impala\ **Created:** [February 8, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356 "2022-02-08T15:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sundayDriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sundaydriver/32/5263_2.png) [@sundayDriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sundayDriver)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 12:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356/21 "2022-02-10T12:10:20Z")
Is there a different solenoid which prevents the key from being turned all the way off if the car is not in park? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356/22 "2022-02-10T12:21:09Z")
> [@PvtPublic](#): > > that cover is actually not even close to the solenoid. But, it is very likely that it is putting pressure on the release button, and that this is activating the solenoid. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356/23 "2022-02-10T17:38:49Z")
Solenoids are for intermittent actuation, if the shift cover keeps the solenoid energized, it will burn it out. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356/24 "2022-02-10T20:37:29Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > But, it is very likely that it is putting pressure on the release button, and that this is activating the solenoid. > [@Purebred](#): > > Solenoids are for intermittent actuation, if the shift cover keeps the solenoid energized, it will burn it out. I understand. But I thought the button on the shifter was a mechanical deal, and the actual solenoid was activated by the brake switch. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356/25 "2022-02-11T22:16:08Z")
I do not know about the OPs car. To shift from Park mine requires both brake and button on shifter to be depressed. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356/26 "2022-02-11T23:53:59Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > To shift from Park mine requires both > brake and button on shifter to be depressed. Yep. Older cars (well, some newer ones too, I think) had that redundancy where you had to have both the brake and the knob switch pressed in order to move the shift lever out of park. That solenoid can be activated absent the brake switch if the shift lever is already out of park. Some shifters will prevent you from shifting down to D1 or 2 without pressing the shifter, but you don’t have to be braking to go into D1 or 2. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356/27 "2022-02-12T19:42:19Z")
IIRC, that button is to open the reverse lock gate. It’s purely mechanical and it allows the shifter to go through reverse to park or park to neutral and drive. The solenoid is activated anytime the ignition is on and the shifter is in park. I’m thinking that your solenoid is not burning up but that the switch that is activated when the stick is in park is slightly out of adjustment and the cover my be holding the button down enough to allow the stick to slip slightly into the reverse gate. I’d say don’t use the cover or cut a hole in the cover so that it does not interfere with the button. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/could-a-gear-shifter-cover-burn-out-an-ignition-solenoid/182356.md?page=1)