Need help from all you experts out there!

[msufroggy]

I am ready to drive this SUV over a cliff!!!


So here's what happened to me today. And I can just imagine what this is gonna cost me!

I go to reverse into my driveway (I like to park with the rear in first). All seems fine until I put it in park,...and I notice the car is rolling forward. So I try to make sure it's in park( the gear shift sure looks like it's in park), but now the gear shift will NOT budge...it's locked in one place.

So this is while the car is still on...wheels are straight, key is in ignition. I put the parking break on, and turn the car off. Try to turn the car on...no way...it's acting like it's out of gear and now it won't start.

I tried turning the ignition to various places (on, aux, start, etc) and the gear shift will still not budge.

***Here's where I am concerned....when I push the button in on the gear shift handle to try to release it to switch gears, I hear a nice "click" sound from the area where the key goes in the ignition. (just inside that casing around the ignition).

What is THAT about? There is no leaking of any fluids. This problem came out of the blue...I have never had problems with the ignition, or with the transmission, etc.

Sooo..off to the shop it goes...then a for sale sign is getting taped on it the minute it comes out!


Any help would be appreciated.

[Chris Stewart]

Hi msufroggy, it's been a while.
Does the shifter go all the way forward in Park or could there be something keeping it from going all the way?

[karlmarx]

Just took my '02 bravada in to Midas for the same thing, turns out that the cable attached to the shifter is on a rail and it had simply popped off. Simple fix, only $50, all labor.

Hope this helps

[karlmarx]

Spoke too soon. Had the problem fixed yesterday, then was stranded again today. Apparently the shifter cable has "derailed" again. Had it towed back to the house and will have it fixed again tomorrow. Will report back then, but this problem must be fixed permanently or else how can I trust it when I drive anywhere?

[karlmarx]

Back with more on this shifting problem with the Bravada. Took it into the shop again today since I was stranded yesterday without being able to shift. The mechanic told me that the problem is that as you shift, the cable is drawn through a hole and on one side of the hole a tab is attached to the cable and as the cable goes through the hole, this tab is supposed to click into place behind the hole and hold the cable in place so that it stays in the gear you're shifting to. This tab is made out of plastic and just gets worn from too much shifting and loses it's ability to spring back. The mechanic simply twisted some wire around underneath the tabs so it would be forced to catch as gears were changed. I'm going to try and find out if there is some newer part, preferably made out of metal that I can switch it with for more permanent solution.

[Chris Stewart]

Thanks for the update, maybe it'll shed some light on msufroggy's problem.

[fishingirl]

Hi guys--well sounds like I have the same prob w/my 94. Sometimes it won't go into park. It's like something is keeping it from going all the way in. I haven't had any prob's w/any of the other gears but when this happens if I put it in reverse-back up a little-put it back in drive then in park it will usually go right in. I know something's up and was hoping someone can help me out.

[Chris Stewart]

Because your shifter is on the steering column like mine and it works ok after your reverse trick, it may be the drivers side motor mount is weak-letting the engine raise up on the drivers side. Try putting it in Neutral to unload the motor mount then Park and see if that helps.

[fishingirl]

Originally Posted by Chris Stewart

Because your shifter is on the steering column like mine and it works ok after your reverse trick, it may be the drivers side motor mount is weak-letting the engine raise up on the drivers side. Try putting it in Neutral to unload the motor mount then Park and see if that helps.

So go directly from Neutral into Park? If this works then I need to have my motor mount replaced huh?

[Chris Stewart]

It's a symptom of the drivers side mount going bad.
Another is while holding your foot on the brake pedal, while in Drive, with the hood up and looking between the back of the hood & cowl where you can observe the engine then lightly stepping on the throttle while firmly holding the brake so the car doesn't move, and see if the driver's side of the engine raises up higher than 1 inch.