Unable to Shift Out of Park

[Smitm13]

2008 Chevrolet Impala LT 6 Cyl 3.50L

About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that it became more difficult to shift my car out of park. A few days ago, I took apart the center console to discover that some of the wiring to the shifter was loose.

I am in no means a mechanic, just cheap. This was my process for self repair:

1. Per the solenoid wiring diagram I found online, I desired via a new pigtail and installed popped it back in.

2. After triple checking my connections, I started it back up and was able to shift it into reverse. I backed out and came back into garage, put it in park, shut it off, BUT couldn't remove the key.

3. Let's try that again...started it back up, try to put it in reverse....no can do. Wires still look good and the metal emergency shift release button on the side of the shifter doesn't even budge to shifter (yes, foot on brake - brake lights work)

4. I was able to get my key out via the side of the ignition trick with a screwdriver. Additionally, I notice that after removing the handle of the shifter, pressing down on the rod release key too.

5. BMC and RAP fuses appear to be connecting.

Am I missing something here? Should I unscrew the shift from the floor to further check the wiring? I’m not wanting to throw in the towel and have it towed to the dealer...yet.

[Tech II]

Yes, I have seen the wires break completely, or they break inside the insulation but look ok......

Since you have the wiring diagram, what I would do is disconnect the harness from the shifter.......

Then I would be checking the individual circuits of the harness with a test light(not a voltmeter).....

Apply Ebrake, key on engine off....Shift to reverse(with harness disconnected, and the lever depressed it should shift to R....if it doesn't bad shifter)...now attach the test light to the power input to the BTSI solenoid in harness(dk Green/wh tracer)....should have no power....now shift to P....now test light should light....check the ground circuit for the solenoid...if both are good, you need a new BTSI solenoid(comes with whole shifter).....

To check the lock solenoid, hook the harness back to the btsi solenoid...disconnect harness from lock solenoid in column....attach a test light to harness...shift into park and see if you have power...if you don't then check both circuits from the lock solenoid back to the harness at the BTSI.....if both wires are good, need a BTSI solenoid....

Very rarely is it the BTSI.....it's usually the wiring....when you get a new harness, it's usually white wires....double check you connected each white wire to the correct colored wire....

[Smitm13]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Yes, I have seen the wires break completely, or they break inside the insulation but look ok......

Since you have the wiring diagram, what I would do is disconnect the harness from the shifter.......

Then I would be checking the individual circuits of the harness with a test light(not a voltmeter).....

Apply Ebrake, key on engine off....Shift to reverse(with harness disconnected, and the lever depressed it should shift to R....if it doesn't bad shifter)...now attach the test light to the power input to the BTSI solenoid in harness(dk Green/wh tracer)....should have no power....now shift to P....now test light should light....check the ground circuit for the solenoid...if both are good, you need a new BTSI solenoid(comes with whole shifter).....

To check the lock solenoid, hook the harness back to the btsi solenoid...disconnect harness from lock solenoid in column....attach a test light to harness...shift into park and see if you have power...if you don't then check both circuits from the lock solenoid back to the harness at the BTSI.....if both wires are good, need a BTSI solenoid....

Very rarely is it the BTSI.....it's usually the wiring....when you get a new harness, it's usually white wires....double check you connected each white wire to the correct colored wire....

Wow! Thank you for your detailed response as it has been hard finding answers.

Unfortunately, I wasted a bunch of time looking at all things relative to the issue when I came to find out that the solenoid wiring diagram was incorrect after watching a YouTube video (despite the original diagram being labeled as “2008 Chevrolet Impala LT”...weird).

Now, the only remaining issue is the shift cover itself. The button on the cover/knob seems as if it is stuck or broken in the “pressed in state” and will not engage/make contact with the little lever to unlock the shifter. For now, I assume that I just need to buy a new cover and “MacGyver” it in the meantime with a screwdriver.

Any insight on the shift cover? I just want to make sure that is the final problem and not a symptom of something deeper.

Thank you again for your assistance!

[Tech II]

Sure the shifter knob is all the way on, and the u-shaped clip is correctly inserted to hold it in place?