Won't shift from park

plainvanilla · December 8, 2005

The 97 Suburban would not shift from park last night in the driveway. I tapped the brake pedal several times, thinking the switch that prevents shifting from park without the brake on was bad. Nothing helped, I tried moving the tilt up and down and turning the wheel back and forth, then all of the sudden it shifted like nothing was binding and all was fine.

I just thought the cold weather was messing with it since it has been in the teens here the last few days which is real unusual.

This morning it also stuck in park, it unstuck again just out of the blue and I drove to the store, where it stuck again. This time, nothing worked. I could not get it to release, I started tugging(too hard) on the shifter and heard the nice sound of a cable popping

Now the shifter flops up and down real smooth.... and It is still in park..

I tried setting the brake and moving the shifter at the transmission by hand and it did not seem to budge. I had someone put their foot on the brake and I was able to move the lever on the tranny freely and drove it home in drive.

Another funny thing, when I pulled into the driveway, I figured that my key would be stuck in the switch since I was still in drive, but I killed the motor in drive and the switch moved back and the key came out.

What the heck is going on??

Please help if you can....

plainvanilla · December 8, 2005

I am thinking now that the switch under the dash was bad afterall, that would explain the intermittent release of the lever. Because when it would finally shift out of park, it was easy and smooth with no binding. I think I will get a new switch and then tear into my column and find the small cable that connects the shifter to the indicator that I think I broke.

silverZ71ado · December 9, 2005

My 98 silverado had the same problem. Some times it would work fine others it wouldn't work at all. It was the brake light switch. The switch it was not bad but the main contact had come out of place and would not always make contact. good lock to you.

busta · December 9, 2005

I doubt you would of broke any cables but I have been wrong before...my first guess was the switch...got an old farm truck (and yeah its a ford) that the switch went out on and i couldnt budge the shifter

plainvanilla · December 10, 2005

I tore it apart yesterday and what I did break was a cam lever that activates the shifter cable and connets it to the shift handle. I still have the orginal problem of the switch also to deal with. I went to a wrecking yard today and got me a replacment peice out of a wrecked one with a bad column in it, so I wouldn't ruin a othewise good column.

It is only held onto the side of the column with 3 fine thread torx screws and beside from taking the dash trim and column trim off, it isn't that bad to get out.

When I get the new one installed in the morning, I will look at the switch.

So you guys are saying that the switch that makes you have your foot on the brake before shifting out of park is actually also the stop-light switch?

Interesting, I thought they would be two different switches.

nice to know

toyotatech · December 10, 2005

I tore it apart yesterday and what I did break was a cam lever that activates the shifter cable and connets it to the shift handle. I still have the orginal problem of the switch also to deal with. I went to a wrecking yard today and got me a replacment peice out of a wrecked one with a bad column in it, so I wouldn't ruin a othewise good column.
It is only held onto the side of the column with 3 fine thread torx screws and beside from taking the dash trim and column trim off, it isn't that bad to get out.

When I get the new one installed in the morning, I will look at the switch.

So you guys are saying that the switch that makes you have your foot on the brake before shifting out of park is actually also the stop-light switch?

Interesting, I thought they would be two different switches.

nice to know

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When it won't come out of park, have someone look at your brake lights. If they aren't on, check the brake light switch. I have seen this alot on Toyota rav4.

plainvanilla · December 10, 2005

I tore it apart yesterday and what I did break was a cam lever that activates the shifter cable and connets it to the shift handle. I still have the orginal problem of the switch also to deal with. I went to a wrecking yard today and got me a replacment peice out of a wrecked one with a bad column in it, so I wouldn't ruin a othewise good column.
It is only held onto the side of the column with 3 fine thread torx screws and beside from taking the dash trim and column trim off, it isn't that bad to get out.

When I get the new one installed in the morning, I will look at the switch.

So you guys are saying that the switch that makes you have your foot on the brake before shifting out of park is actually also the stop-light switch?

Interesting, I thought they would be two different switches.

nice to know

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When it won't come out of park, have someone look at your brake lights. If they aren't on, check the brake light switch. I have seen this alot on Toyota rav4.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I sure will, now that I have the column fixed and working and the temps are back up in the 50's and 60's, it is shifting out of park fine.

I really think the zero temps messed with the switch. I will leave it be for now, but if it does it again, I will check the brake like switch for sure.

Rookie · December 11, 2005

I had a similar problem but mine was the shifter cable. The plastic sleve around the end of the cable cracked and was slipping. this plastic piece is under the rubber boot down by the trans lever. i replaced the cable and its good as new. Have fun replacing the cable if that is it. its not hard just a pain. you have to remove the kick panel , drivers seat, carpet, and pull the lower dash off. just in case the part number fro it is 15037353. that is the gm part number. its about $70.00.

just my .02

Chickentruck · July 22, 2008

I have 1998 GMC and it wouldn't shift, brake lights didn't work,a nd this was the scariest.....before all this went the cruise wouldn't shut off. Doing 65 and not able to brake because the cruise is stuck on really sucks. Had to turn off the cruise on the switch turn signal.

This is the second bgrake switch I've replaced in two months. Seems od to replace that often. Any one else have this happen this often?