Car stuck in park

[meathead23]

I have a large problem on my 2003 Grand Prix (3.1L). I can get the car started but I cannot shift out of park. I checked to make sure the parking brake wasn't on and it wasn't. Could anyone tell me what the problem if and if I could fix it myself.

[jimmyv-21]

i would have to say this could be a couple of things:
the easiest is the fuse- my neighbor had this prob on his brand new dodge magnum. he could start the car but not get it into drive. they towed it to the dealer and come to find out he had a blown fuse. its not a grand prix, but it might be something as simple as this.
another possibility is the shift solenoid. i believe this is located under the console/shifter and is a common prob with the gp's. a spilled soda or coffee is often to blame.
a third possibility is the key release solenoid in the column. this one is a bi$$ch. however, you did not mention any problems with the key releasing, so this is probably not the issue. if both are experienced- key not releasing and car not shifting- then this is definitely the problem.

[meathead23]

I actually do have a problem with the key releasing. If taken in for repaor, approx. how much would that be?

[jimmyv-21]

key release selenoid part number 26046984

dealer 44$ gmpartsdirect.com 25$

do me a favor and check this part number to be sure it is the same for the 3.1- i have been to two websites and they both show this as the correct one, but they dont ask for the engine size.
i have seen the job go for $450 at the dealer.

try this link
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...highlight=btsi

notice, someone in here mentions the fuse, and also someone mentions tightening the battery cables at the battery and underhood fuse box.

[chevelle_ss_69]

Also, this has happend to buddy of mine with a grand prix. If you have a shift lock release button next to the shifter, if its missing you can't shift from park unless it's there, so u will have to stick a pen or something in it until u shift from park

[gpdoug]

Been there done that. Did you get it fixed? Does the squeeze thing on the top of the shifter squeeze?

With mine the squeezy thing did not squeeze. At first it was very hard to squeeze but then it just did not squeeze at all. I took out the center console, had a look around while squeezing the squeezy thing, then squirted some WD-40 (with the straw) down some of the mechanical linkage stuff. Workes fine ever since being fixed, about 18 months ago. I do beileve a spilled soda was to blame, gumming up the mechanical bits.

It seems like there was a pin that is supposed to fall when you push on the brake, allowing you to squeeze the shift handle. The soda gummed this up so that it didn't fall when pushing the brake thus not allowing the shifter out of park. Check it out it is an easy fix and could save you some $$

[lanee]

My key got stuck and its a button under the steering wheel that lets the Key out, but i have a GT 3.8 i dont know if its work on 3.1

[Doc Blazer]

Shift cable broken. The cable breaks inside the cable housing allowing the
transaxle input lever to be pushed into park, but will not pull it out of park. Set brakes and plac eshifter in neutral. Find where input lever is on top of transaxle. You should be able to move it with your hand. I had to change the cable on my daughters sunfire, 75 bucks from the dealership and 4hrs in my garage.

[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...

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 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.