WTF my car wont shift out of park

[HairDrier]

I finally found my friggin keys, so I put my car in neutral and pushed it forward five feet in my garage to get room to do the exhaust. I put it back in Park. I cut off the old exhaust and started the car to charge the battery like I do every month. I went to put it in gear test my brakes and it wouldnt budge. Now I cant get my keys out of the ignition either, its stuck in the position that is supposed to unlock the steering column and shifter. WTF?
:banghead:

[Be4u]

Happened to me once...make sure your shifter handle is pushed down. I dont have a clip that holds it in. Pull it up a little and your car wont shift.

[gnsrule]

Try turning the ring on the colume counterclockwise. That ring has the ignition/shifter interlock mechanism. If it goes in gear now, adjust the rod comeing down from the colume to the tranny linkage.

[Ross]

Turn the steering wheel pretty hard. Turn it hard to the left, and then to the right.

Ross

[ineil]

I had to move the column ring to get mine started, but eventually replaced the shifter cable and is all better now,

[HairDrier]

OK I still cant get this thing to budge. I disconnected the linkage from the steering shaft by the firewall to the transmission and it didnt make a difference. Should I be able to shift the tranny by hand now from under the car?

Still cant get the key out of the column either

[Be4u]

I wondered about if you ever got it going. Keep us updated if you remember.

[HairDrier]

Any other suggestions, I tried the ones above and I am still screwed

[TexasT]

When you move the ring near the dash nothing happens? Is the steering wheel locked? Could be in side the steering column. I do know the wheel must be just right to get the key to turn. If it is bound up the key doesn't work. Good luck post back with more symptoms if you're still having trouble.

Rich

[HairDrier]

When you move the ring near the dash nothing happens? Is the steering wheel locked? Could be in side the steering column. I do know the wheel must be just right to get the key to turn. If it is bound up the key doesn't work. Good luck post back with more symptoms if you're still having trouble.

Rich

I can only move the ring near the dash about 1/4", and it changes nothing. I can start the car and turn the wheel but I cant get the key out or shift gears. I can turn the steering wheel.

[Recklessrob]

If disconnecting the rod from the column to the tranny
didn't help, I'd start looking at the shift handle and related
parts.As previously mentioned, I've seen the clips become dislodged
allowing the handle to move up on the stick preventing the button
from moving the release mechanism. Also check the nylon piece
inside of the chrome stick. I've seen those break up so that the button
wouldn't work either.

Good luck .

[HairDrier]

The button on my shifter has never worked, so I dont think that is the problem. How do I remove the top of the shifter handle?

[Be4u]

On the pass side of the handle there is a little slot right above where the rod goes into the handle. Mines missing the little plastic thing that holds it together. I just saw a handle forsale somewhere new. It was $15. I'll try to find the link for you.

[SuperSix]

I have the same problem on my car. After I start it, the lock cylinder doesn't return to "ON", the BRAKE light stays on, no accessories will work (windows, radion, etc) until I turn the cylinder slightly forward, pushing into the column at the same time, then turn it back ti the "ON" position. I have a new column staged for replacement, until I do replace it, it's a real ghetto type of anti-theft. :D

[HairDrier]

I have the same problem on my car. After I start it, the lock cylinder doesn't return to "ON", the BRAKE light stays on, no accessories will work (windows, radion, etc) until I turn the cylinder slightly forward, pushing into the column at the same time, then turn it back ti the "ON" position. I have a new column staged for replacement, until I do replace it, it's a real ghetto type of anti-theft. :D

Thats not exactly the same problem, yours is way more complicated :add_wegbr

[HairDrier]

I am still entertaining suggestions on this, as I am still screwed.

I cant see how it can be the column linkage when the lever at the tranny will not budge with it disconnected, or is it supposed to be that way?

[Recklessrob]

I cant see how it can be the column linkage when the lever at the tranny will not budge with it disconnected, or is it supposed to be that way?


Bob, you're absolutely right. It's not in the column. Put your car up on jack stands or a lift (if available) . Then disconnect everything (thats shifter related)from the transmission. See if you can twist the selector shaft by hand. If you can't, the problem is in the transmission. If you can, the problem
is somewhere in the shifter assembly. If you find it to be in the shifter assembly, You'll need to take it apart. On the side of the shifter handle
(as mentioned earlier) there is a small clip you'll need to pry out. You
can use a small flat screwdriver to do this. Once its out, simply pull up on the handle and it'll come off. Now you should now see a small peice of nylon
protruding from the center of the chrome stick. Try pushing down on it with your thumb and see if the shifter will then move. If you don't see the nylon
piece, figure out where it is and what happened. If you can move the shifter,
see if any of the parts are broken or worn out (including inside the handle
it self). Feel free to PM me with any specifics when your're in there.

[HairDrier]

Thanks fir the reply. I am trying to remember from my living room what all is connected to the tranny. There is the linkage from the column, and the cable coming down from the floorpan. Its the shifter assembly right? Or is that the TV cable? You can see how ignorant I am when it comes to trannys.

[Recklessrob]

The TV cable is on the passengers side of the transmission.
The shifter cable is on the drivers side front While the speedometer
cable is on the drivers side rear next to the driveshaft.
Hopefully that'll clear things up for you. :albert:

[HairDrier]

Thanks I didnt even think of the speedo cable

[HairDrier]

OK, I got the console apart and disconnected the cable to the tranny. The shifter handle is not not jammed at all, it moves freely now.
So I disconnected the linkage from the column to the tranny and I disconnected the shift cable from the tranny. I can shift the tranny by hand so that is not the problem. I still can move the shift cable from the console to the shift mechanism at all, so that must be the problem

How can it all of a sudden freeze up though? It wont budge at all after working just fine. I dont see where it is kinked anywhere either. Any suggestions on where it could be caught?

[Recklessrob]

Bob, remember that shifter cable is over 15 years old. :gost:
Sometimes the housings break and bind 'em up. Or the cable
may have frayed. Sh%@ Happens !
Anyway, congrats on finding the problem. :top:

[HairDrier]

Any tips on how to get this thing out?

[Turbo Brian]

if any of your engine grounds are missing/broken, the shift cable becomes a ground and will fry.

i just picked up a new shift cable this morning from the dealer. fwiw, the motormite brand from the parts store is crap. it didnt last one shift before breaking. tried another brand (pioneer i think, from AZ) it lasted about 4 months. it broke last week. im trying this GM one since the original lasted 15 years just fine.

as for replacing it, i know you gotta remove the console. i didnt replace my last one so i cant help much. my dad did it as i didnt have time with work and he had a day off :)

[HairDrier]

if any of your engine grounds are missing/broken, the shift cable becomes a ground and will fry.


Well Brian its funny you mention that. Because after only a few minutes of running yesterday the cable was VERY warm to the touch and when the shift mechanism would contact it I thought I was seeing some extremely small sparks where they came into contact. How the heck would a ground break while the car is in stg?

[Turbo Brian]

corrosion?

[HairDrier]

Which grounds are most succeptible?