98 Aurora Stuck in Park When Cold

[98Aurora]

I have a 98 Aurora with 104K miles that I can not push in the button on the side of the shifter knob when the car is first started in cold weather. I do not have this problem when the weather is hot, but the problem only starts to happen when the temperatures drop at night (below +50 F). The car cranks up OK, but I have to turn the heater on full blast for about 5 to 10 minutes, then I can push the button in, which releases the shifter to get out of park.

At one time I thought it was a switch for the brake, because you must have your foot on the brake in order to push in the shifter button. However, this is not the case, as only the interior must be warmed up before the button can be pushed in. What is cure for this problem????

Overall, this is a GREAT CAR!!! I am the original owner, and have very few problems with this car as compared to other cars I have owned with this many miles. I plan on keeping in another 2 years. I do enjoy doing my own maintenance on this car, which keeps it running good.

Thanks, 98 Aurora

[03impala9c1]

Honestly pull off the trim plate on your console to reveal the shifter unit. Inspect it for soda spilt (or something sticky). I had the same problem with my 98 Grand Prix last winter. The small actuator on the shifter assembly was gummed up just take some degreaser and clean it up and spray some white lithium grease on it if this is the case... otherwise you might want to look into seeing if your ignition switch itself is malfunctioning causing your actuator to not release, that ended up happening to me with the same car this last spring!

[aurora199540]

my 95 does the exact same thing.i also have to let the car warm up for 10-15 minutes before i can push the shifter buttoin in.i was told that when the button is pushed in a pin drops down and alows the shifter to move.in cold weather the grease inside the shifter gets hard and the pin wont drop down.i'm not sure what the solution is but that's how this problem was explained to me.

[PDB]

I also have a 98' in which the gearshift button sticks. I dismantled the console and everything will switch easily but when I put it back in park the button won't initially push back in. I've tried to shoot lubricant into the handle but its not getting to the dried out pins. I can actually hear it scrape when I get it to work. Is there any way to get lubricant into the handle or is there a handle diagram somewhere??

[fsulongm]

I have problem as well. I have been told there is a solenoid that has gone bad that prevents the shifter from shifting without the brake on. I jiggle it a few times and it eventually works. When it is cold outside, a mechanic recommended turning the key slightly on, but before it kicks in the electrical system, and shifting to neutral, then turning it on and starting the car. That actually works great for me.