[carbon02]

Hello-- Long time reader, first time poster.

I’ve got both a 2000 and 2002 Intrigue and the 2002 is also having a problem with a sticky shifter button and difficulty shifting into park and turning the key to off and removing the key.


There is a Brake Transmission Shift Interlock that is part of the shifter assembly. The Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) is designed to prevent shifting the transaxle out of PARK without pressing the brake pedal. This works together with the switch under the brake pedal that LittleHoov mentions above.


I lubricated the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock with some spray silicone and below here’s a list of what I did. This may or may not work for you, and do so at your own risk.

• Access the sifter assembly. Open the console cover and remove the two (2) 7mm bolts. Open the cup holder, and lift up on this piece of plastic. It is held in with 4 push clips. Disconnect the Traction Control switch. (There’s a typical electrical snap “hook” on the back of the switch to pull back with a fingernail to remove the wire. This isn’t really required, but it’s easy and gives you more room to work.) It may be easier to get this to pull up and off the shifter by shifting to D or 2nd gear. Of course use the brakes when doing this, and possibly block a wheel so your car doesn’t go anywhere.
• Next remove the 4 bolts around the bottom of the shifter assembly (7mm).
• Now sitting in the drivers seat pull the plastic part that displays the PRND21 display upwards on the metal shift assembly. Everything including the leather boot just slides up. This is just to look at what’s going on underneath, no need to remove the button. Button can be removed by removing a small metal clip that can be seen in the slot behind the shifter. I guess you use a screwdriver to do this, but I didn’t do it as I knew my button wasn’t broke yet. You’ll get a bit more room by removing the light bulb from this assembly. Turn it counterclockwise and it will come out. It took a bit more force that I thought it would so be careful.
• Now sitting in the drivers seat, you should see a black cylinder with a wire connector attached to it at the front left of the shifter.
• With the tires blocked for safety try shifting with the key in the acc position. Based on what I have read this brake safety interlock is not activated in the accessory key position. Again confirmed by the LittleHoov post above.
• You will see the solenoid actuating from the front (closest to the heater control..) of the black cylinder.
• Use a light lubricant on the solenoid shaft and the cables. I used a spray can of silicone spray and spayed it into a cup, and used a q-tip to dab this silicone on the solenoid shaft and both of the cables, and all metal pivot points that could be seen. There’s lots of plastic under there and I was careful not to gum up the cables and get something that might eat the plastic!
• The cable on the driver side of the shifter stalk is the parking lock cable and is attached to the bottom of the ignition switch and tells the ignition switch if the car is in park.
• The cable on the right of the shifter stalk is for the transmission shift cable.
• I tried working with two dealerships to get part numbers for the solenoid. I guess it is replaced as part of the shifter assembly which is more than I wanted to spend.
• I believe this solenoid lock is activated when the solenoid has power. I guess you could unplug it and should shift with or without your foot on the brake. Possibly as I haven’t tried it, and I would do so at your own risk.
• Assembly is the reverse procedure to put back together. Make sure the electrical wire for the light bulb of the shifter doesn’t interfere with the BTSI part that moves. Use some electrical tape and tape up these wires.

I hope that helps with some of the issues people are having with their shifters. It could also be a shifter cable out of alignment or a shift button assembly that is actually broken.

Good Luck..