2005 Sierra 2500 won't start or properly shift into gear

Bigd66 · April 25, 2016

As the title says it wont start and doesn't shift into gear. When I go to start it, I hear the clicking in the starter but won't turn over.

The gear selector on the column moves up and down but doesn't seem to engage a gear. I can tell since when I turn the key and put the car into neutral and roll it slightly then try to shift it into drive or reverse, gear selector will move but doesn't engage a gear, it just keeps rolling. I was playing with the selector and it fell all the way down to my knee (way past where it should be), cracked the plastic on the column, and showed D1 on the dash and couldn't pull it back up into park. I finally managed to pull it back into park and then the truck started and i was able to make it home. But now it won't start again and I'm having the same problem. The selector now also easily pulls down all the way to my knee like before very easily.

I've had problems in the past where I couldn't get the key out of the ignition unless I play with the ignition key. It would turn to far in the off position and I would have to turn it back to the proper position to get it out. Or I would have to play with the shifter.

Any idea what it is?

Formulabruce · April 26, 2016

Common sense would indicate the shift cable is broken...starter clicking can be low battery.. your welcome, and welcome to the forums

Bigd66 · April 26, 2016

Common sense would indicate the shift cable is broken...starter clicking can be low battery.. your welcome, and welcome to the forums

Don't think it's the cable. I just played with it a few minutes ago and managed to start and get into gear. but after i turned it off i, again, couldn't start it.

Plus, now when I pull the shifter towards me and down it can go all the way down past D1 almost touching my knee. I realized if i play with the steering wheel I can move the shifter back up to where it should be. But at the moment it's not starting again. Could it be the shift assembly?

Formulabruce · April 26, 2016

You will have to unhook the shift cable at the TRANS, and try the trans with wheels CHOCKED , and see how it feels by hand, could be the shift detent inside or even parking paw broke.