Auto shifter wont shift out of park

[Solonys]

98 intrigue, 95k miles. quite often the button on the automatic transmission shifter wont depress and i cant get the car out of park. sometimes I can use both hands and force it, sometimes i cant. Any ideas?

[LittleHoov]

when you push in the brake pedal can you hear the safety switch working? You should be able to actually hear it. I cant remember what its called, but its the switch that allows you to shift out of park.

[Solonys]

Originally Posted by LittleHoov

when you push in the brake pedal can you hear the safety switch working? You should be able to actually hear it. I cant remember what its called, but its the switch that allows you to shift out of park.

I tried to hear it a couple of times but couldnt hear it (note that the shifter wasnt being troublesome at the time of the test)

[panzer dragoon]

Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control System
The automatic transmission shift lock control system is a safety device that prevents an inadvertent shift out of PARK when the engine is running. The driver must press the brake pedal before moving the shift lever out of the PARK position. The system consist of the following components:

The automatic transmission shift lock control solenoid.
The automatic transmission shift lock control switch.
The transmission range switch. With the ignition in the ON position, battery positive voltage is supplied to the automatic transmission shift lock control switch. The circuit continues through the normally-closed switch to the automatic transmission shift lock control solenoid. The transmission range switch provides a path to ground in the PARK position. With the automatic transmission shift lock control solenoid energized the shift lever is locked in the PARK position. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the contacts in the automatic transmission shift lock control switch open. This causes the automatic transmission shift lock control solenoid to release. This allows the shift lever to move from the PARK position.

[Solonys]

Okay, so what part needs to be checked? rofl. I can literally wedge all 200lbs of me on that brake pedal and it still refuses to shift out of park, because the button wont push in.

[panzer dragoon]

you are trying to hard = it is OK! to cheat sometimes:

The shift lock control feature was intended to prevent drivers from shifting out of Park with the vehicle running without the brakes applied. However, if the ignition switch is in the Accessory (ACC) position, it may be possible on some vehicles to move the shift lever out of Park WITHOUT first activating the brake.

The shift lock control system is ONLY active when the ignition switch is in the RUN or ON position. This means that when the ignition switch is in the RUN or ON position, the shift lever cannot be moved out of the Park position without activating the brake.

[LittleHoov]

Ah yes I had forgotten about that, what panzer_dragoon is talking about is true, and works on my Intrigue, although its an inconvenience it should at least allow you to move the car around until you find out the problem

[panzer dragoon]

Originally Posted by LittleHoov

Ah yes I had forgotten about that, what panzer_dragoon is talking about is true, and works on my Intrigue, although its an inconvenience it should at least allow you to move the car around until you find out the problem

-I would just think of it as an extra security option. =Your car will not shift out of park drive unless it is on accessory and not run or drive. =Your car will only start in neutral and if they can get it out of park.

=The car is put to accessory (key in), then shifted into neutral + press the brake, -now start the car in neutral (brake on optional).

Badsey = the laziest player in the business (and some say the dirtiest = not true, -it really is lazyness!!)

You are really gonna make the car thieves hate your car with your new security device. (and just think how frustrated you got = that times 3-10x for a car thief)

[niemo810]

didn't GM have trouble with some kind of switch and volatge? it seems like i remember hearing something about those switches. if there isn't enough voltage going to the switch it wont.. i don't know. maybe it was something to do with the key. something for you to look into at least

[lunasea808]

Okay I had the same problem before. That switch that panzer is talking about is right behind the brake pedal. The whole entire part (switch & housing) is plastic. What has happen is the switch may have come loose. Hand tightening might be needed.

But if it was like mine: Even after I tried hand tightening it felt cross threaded some how. So I took the whole thing out (a ten dollar part) and sure enough after time this part got brittle. So you have two options buy a new switch w/ the housing or work with the one you got.

There was nothing mechaniclly wrong with the switch I had. So I just put a little teflon tape around the thread and carfully hand tighten the switch. And that was about 18 months ago & and not a problem since.

Hope that helps.