97 Lumina starts but won't shift from park

[Raymond2500]

I just bought a 97 Lumina on Friday. The 70 mi drive home went well. There weren't any problems Saturday afternoon.

Saturday night the car ran fine into the city. When it ws time to leave the car started, but wouldn't shift out of park.

Any suggestions? It's in a parking garage and has to be out today.

Thanks

[stgninja]

Sounds like the neutral safety switch. Haven't personally made that repair, yet.

[jeffcoslacker]

Not NSS but shift lock solenoid, you were close. That's my guess, anyway.

There's a solenoid that prevents shifter movement unless your foot is on the brake. You should hear it clicking in the column when you press the brake pedal. If you don't, that's the problem.

See if you have any brake lights. I'm not sure it works off the brake light switch, but if you have none, that's probably where the fault lies. Otherwise, check up in that area (above the pedal) and make sure there isn't something keeping the brake light switch or other pedal-activated switches from working.

I've never seen the solenoid itself go bad (although I'm sure it happens), so I don't know how to replace it. Call a dealer and ask them if there is a way to bypass the shift lock solenoid for emergency purposes. Floor mount shifters usually have a way of disengaging it, like putting the key in a slot next to the shifter, that will allow it to move if the locking solenoid malfunctions or the battery is dead. Not sure about a column shift. Speaking of that...make sure a fuse didn't blow also. That could do it.

[jeffcoslacker]

One other thing that could be an issue. Sometimes the shift cable on these will have an issue where it binds fiercely when cold (like after sitting out all night), but will ease up after the ambient temp under the hood gets warmer. Usually very cold weather will bring this on.

I used to run a tow truck, and got called out on a few of these type problems on Lumina and similar models. I have pretty strong arms, having worked on cars all my life, and weigh almost 300, and still it was almost all I could do to move the shifter outta park on a couple of them.

If you hear the shift lock solenoid clicking as you step on and off the brake, try letting it run for 20-30 minutes to warm it up real good under the hood and try again....