Car wont go into drive!

[jessiebighamKC]

Ok heres the problem. I can start the car and put my foot on the brake and when I push in the button on the shifter to take it out of park and into reverse or drive it wont go. I have to keep pushing the button in and taking my foot off the brake and reapplying it to the brake and finally it comes out of park. Im afraid if this keeps happening Im going to end up breaking something or making it worse. Can anyone help me with this problem? Its starting to bother me because I never know when I might get stranded if I put the car in park.

[dewaynep]

Sounds like either a misadjusted brake switch or the brake/shifter interlock is going bad. There is a solenoid that releases the shifter from park when the brake pedal and shifter button are pressed. You should hear an audible "click" when the car is started, foot on the brake pedal and you push the button on the shifter. If you hear the click the shifter should move, if you hear the click and the shifter doesn't move, then the interlock is misadjusted or just not releasing fully.

[tblake]

jessie, what year Grand Prix do you have?

On the 97-03 years, along the right side of the shifter is a little cap. Pup it off, and if it wont go into drive, just inster a key to make it move. I realize this is an annoyance and should only be used as a temporary fix, it may help you not be stranded.

First things first, check the operation of your brake light switch, as I think the shift lock solonoid uses the same circuit. Just apply the brakes and have an assistant check to see if they come on behind the vehicle.

[maney8295]

My shift knob somehow was not fully attached to the stem concealed by the pleather boot cover, I could actually pull the knob off the entire thing. If the shifter knob is not fully in place on the stem then it wont come out of park.. could this be what your experiencing?? I had the dealer fix it for free a few months back.

p.s. its always somethin with these grand prixs, just a money pit really..
anyone want to take mine off my hands?? I'm about to go foreign.

[jessiebighamKC]

Its a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. I do hear the click when applying foot to the brake and then when I click on the button on the shifter thats when I hear the click. It clicks everytime I push the button on the shifter.