[DrRadar]

Thanks for the reply. All indications are the park switch in the shifter assembly is bad. Power is present at the connector to the shifter (at pins F, E, B if I remember correctly). The output of pin C goes to the steering column and the key-release solenoid. When the key release solenoid should be energized but it's disconnected, battery voltage is present. When connected, voltage drops to less than two volts. Leads me to believe the park switch in the shifter is high impedance for some reason. Would like to confirm that directly but I don't get a resistance measurement between pins C and F at the BTSI in the shifter. There is continuity between the connector at the shifter and the positive pin in the connector in the column.

Gotta decide if I want to spend $250-$350 for the shift assembly to have the safety feature...which will probably never be needed, but if it is...