Can’t shift out of Park

97whitez71 · January 12, 2004

’01 Suburban 2WD 49,000 miles

Wife called me in the woods this weekend and said she couldn’t get the gear shifter out of park. She said she tried everything to get it out and couldn’t. The truck was luckily parked in the garage which is level. I came home yesterday and it wouldn’t budge. I bumped the gear shifter a few times up and pulled it to me and pushed it back with a little force a few times and all of a sudden it worked fine. I drove it to work today just to make sure and so far everything is fine. I was thinking maybe some sort of switch, like having to hit the brake to be able to shift. Has anyone run into this or have any ideas? I would hate for this to happen in a parking lot and leave her stranded. One other thing, I now notice that the steering wheel doesn’t lock. I didn’t pay attention to this before. What would cause the steering wheel to not lock? Thanks in advance for any ideas.

seadoons · January 12, 2004

Don't know what to tell you about the gear shifter not shifting out of park...sounds like the switch to me too...I do know that the steering wheels on these late model trucks/SUVs do not lock.

Shaners · January 12, 2004

The problem is most likely with the brake interlock switch.

The brake interlock switch only allows the truck to be shifted out of "P" if the brake is on.

I think that they can be either mechanical or electrical. I don't know which type would be in your truck....

Scott02Z71 · January 13, 2004

The problem is most likely with the brake interlock switch.

The brake interlock switch only allows the truck to be shifted out of "P" if the brake is on.

I think that they can be either mechanical or electrical. I don't know which type would be in your truck....

Shaners is right. There SHOULD be a little electrical switch on your brake pedal that may have come unhooked. The best way to check is to see if the brake lights light up when you press on the brake pedal, if not then it is most likely the switch. I have accidentally kicked the switch and the wire came off on my old 98. Stupid big feet

Scott

Red2500HD · January 13, 2004

97whitez71 · January 13, 2004

Thanks for the replies. So far it's working fine. If it happens again, I'll check that switch.

sonjaab · January 14, 2004

97..........Your problem is NOT your switch. If you look under the dash

there is a bar that runs on top the steering column from the shifter to the

brake pedal assembly. Its sorta hard to see tho.

When you step on the brake it pulls the bar and unlocks the shifter handle.

There is a adjustment nut to adjust the movement under there.

The nut prob. came loose and needs a quick wrench down. Simple fix !

There WAS a link here a while back to disconnect the shifter interlock.

It had pics too. The hosts decided to remove it for liability issues.

....................geo

97whitez71 · January 14, 2004

That's the first I heard of that sonjaab. I will look into it, definitely. If you come across some pictures let me know. Thanks!

Shaners · January 14, 2004

sonjaab, that must be where I wemembered it from... I wasn't sure if it was electrical or mechanical, because I don't know when it was switched over to electrical. Thanks for clearing that up for us!!!

rcj_houston · January 15, 2004

I read about something simular from GM. If you pull the truck up too close to the curb (head on parking in a parking lot) and have pressure on the front tires pushing back against the truck (like driving half way up the curb) and put it into park, this will also cause the problem. GM calls this "Hydrolock" on the transmission. It won't occur again unless you pull up too far against a curb again.

I am sure it is not what happened to you, but thought I would throw my 2cents in.

*rereads to make sure I made any sense...

Cheers all