97 GP shift from park problem

[charles_f]

I am having trouble shifting from park into drive - intermittently. Must use the shift-unlock button to shift it usually. Shifts fine once its out of park. Also, the little lights indicating PNRD321 are not working; P and N never flash when the trans is there, and D and R only work occasionaly.

Also, the ignition lock is locked, can't turn the key back from the run position, when the shift from park problem occurs. Has become more permanent lately

I took it to Autozone; they plugged in a scanner, and no codes were shown.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[kilroypr]

Well, you car has a electrical shifter locking mechanism. Looks like a circuit from the ignition key lock to the actuator that releases the shift stick to be handled is intermitently open. This circuit also has to do with the small lights on your IC. So take it to a en electro mechanic to have your IC wiring inspected. Before that check that all the fuses in the car and on the engine bay are ok.

[BrianC974]

I'm a tech at a Pontiac dealer, most likely the shifter assembly, which includes the shift lock solenoid is failing intermittenly. You can bring it in for diagnostics, but if the tech can't duplicate the condition, he'll have to used an educated guess which if he's smart will be the shift lock solenoid.

Brian

[Martin Richard]

Originally Posted by charles_f

I am having trouble shifting from park into drive - intermittently. Must use the shift-unlock button to shift it usually. Shifts fine once its out of park. Also, the little lights indicating PNRD321 are not working; P and N never flash when the trans is there, and D and R only work occasionaly.

Also, the ignition lock is locked, can't turn the key back from the run position, when the shift from park problem occurs. Has become more permanent lately

I took it to Autozone; they plugged in a scanner, and no codes were shown.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

My wife's car had the exact same problem. I was told that it is the BTSI or Brake Transmission Shift Indicator. It seems to have worked itself out as far as being able to shift out of park when you first start out. But as you say the key switch is messing up .When you shift to park and turn off the ignition the dinger in the car continues to ding as if the head lights are still on a fast ding ding ding. Which eventually runs the battery down. So now the car has been sitting in the drive for a month and a half as I prepare myself to bring it to the shop and face the music. I have taken apart the steering column and the center consloe trying to find some kind of way around all of this stuff without having to spend all of the money for it but to no avail. The car is going in for repairs this week probably I'll let you know.

[Martin Richard]

I brought the car in with a fat wallet waitingfor it to be drained. But to my surprise it was painless. My problem turned out to be a worn ignition key. The service tech made me 2 new keys and my problem appears to be solved. The old keys were not contacting all the tumblers from what I'm told and not turning everything on and off.

[kilroypr]

Sometimes the simplest things are the ones that cuase more pain. Glad you could fix it

[charles_f]

Well my problem ended up being the ignition switch itself - ended up being about $280 to diagnose and get it replaced, but its fixed so I'm happy. I tried replacing the park neutral position switch prior to taking it in, as that seemed like a likely candidate but of course it didn't fix a thing. Still don't see why there were no error codes on the switch itself tho when I took it to autozone

Anyway, thanks alot for the help!

[2000GPGTBlue2dr]

I had the same problem with my 2000 GT. Guess what??? Here's what is wrong. I replaced the shifter ($250) thinking it was the solenoid attached to it, and the P R N D 3 2 1 lights on the dash still kept flickering, and the key would not release out of the ignition when I put the car in park... So despite what the so-called pros in these forums say it's not the shifter solenoid.

There's a 10 amp fuse for the BTSI (see your owner's manual) which is the Automatic Transaxle Shifter Module. Believe it or not sometimes the fuse doesn't make contact with the fuse housing causing an intermitent connection that causes the BTSI that controls or signals the solenoid near the ignition that the car is in park thus releasing the lock to work "off and on."

So here's what you do.... Take that fuse out clean it off, and then actually bend the 2 pieces of metal sticking out of the fuse in opposite directions so that when you put the fuse back in, it ensures a stronger connection to the pieces of metal inside the fuse housing. I did this and the lights no longer flicker, and everytime I have the car in park I can shift to other gears, and I can release the key out of the ignition.

It's funny sometimes you can't always listen to ASE certified techs in these forums 'cause they steer you into buying extra parts you don't need just like the dealers do.