wouldn't shift from 2nd to 3rd

teamjnz · March 20, 2004

Just though I would let you all know something else GM knows about.

Last week my family and I were going to visit some family 2 hours away from home and half way there we stopped to get a bite to eat. When we got back out on the highway my Sivlerado wouldn't shift into 3rd.

( I notice when we backed out of the parking spot my digital gear selector didn't come on until I put it in to drive. It blinked then came on. I did notice earlier the check engine light was on )

So I pulled over and turned it off, restarted and headed to the highway again. Still wouldn't shift from 2nd to 3rd. we pulled over and called the dealer where I bought it since I have had it for almost a month and they said tow it in. The extended warrenty wouldn't tow that far so it went to the closest dealer.

Turned out this isn't the first time this dealer had seen this problem. They replaced the ignition switch and everything is fine. After talking with the service advisor for a little while she said with my model year it's not an uncommon problem.

I would have never guessed that the ignition switch would prevent the tranny from shifting.

redvett · March 21, 2004

If the ign. switch goes bad it dosent supply 12V to the trans and then trans goes default mode. Starts in second gear. SES & blinking PRNDLE is a good clue. Also if you put trans in 2nd gear at startup it starts up in 2nd gear even with out a trans problem. Great for starting out in slippery conditions.

Jeremy WI · March 21, 2004

Quite a few failures on the 95-97 vehicles, no speedo, 2nd gear only, SES with about 7 codes

redvett · March 21, 2004

1995 was the first year for the new steering column with the ign. switch in the head of the column. Lots of teething problems with the switch. Seems they have the bugs sorted out on the GMT800.

teamjnz · March 21, 2004

interesting... I would have never have guessed or thought the ignition switch could cause the transmission from shifting.

thanks for information..

teamjnz

redvett · March 21, 2004

Since 1993 all GM auto transmissions are electrically controlled. Makes for much smoother and efficient operation.

Raced11 · December 25, 2004

I just experienced the same situation on my 2002 GMC Sierra. It was a bad ignition switch. When first contacted, the service department said they had not heard of anything like this happening before. When I talked to the mechanic who did the repair he said it was a common problem on certain GM vehicles. So, $219 later you drive away with a working transmission again. Sweet, since the warranty is expired on miles.............