B737-800
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Procedure; Aircraft
Departing ZZZ; neither autopilot would engage during climb out. The first officer checked circuit breakers; reset the glareshield autopilot disconnect bar; and we tested each yoke disconnect button but neither autopilot would still engage. No QRH procedure could be found. We reported the autopilot issue to ATC and requested to stop our climb at an altitude below RVSM. Next we called ZZZ Maintenance and their suggestion to reset the stab trim autopilot cutout switches successfully restored autopilot function; and flight continued normally at normal cruise altitude.This was the first flight of the day for both pilots and the first flight in several days for the aircraft. Preflight distractions included a previously unseen route error that kept wanting to reload from the CPDLC auto load and update. During pushback; a ground crew wing walker wanted us to abort our number 2 engine start because she felt the tug driver had cleared us to start sooner than she wanted the engines started. After pushback ATC informed us we only had 3 minutes to taxi to make our departure slot time.Suggest adding 'Stab Trim Cutout Switches' to the Before Start Checklist; and/or including a QRH Procedure for 'Neither Autopilot Will Engage.'
B737 Captain reported auto pilot not engaging as required and non QRH procedures were used to get autopilot to function correctly.