Thread: Car won't move out of park and key stuck in ignition

I've had the problem with the shifter not wanting to come out of park and traced it to a wiring issue, which has since been fixed properly.

It started with the shifter acting up a bit, but I was able to get it to release after squeezing the trigger a few times. Then, it started locking the key into the ignition, and I was able to restart the car, then kill it and remove the key. Now, I can't get the car to release either the shifter from park or the key from the ignition. I've temporarily bypassed the issue by leaving the car in neutral with the parking brake on, killing the engine, depressing the lock release under the column, removing the key, then just pulling the shifter into drive for extra security. I'm thinking it may be a neutral safety switch issue, but there seems to be two on this car: one on the trans and another in the column.

If failed, which one of these switches could cause the problems I am having, or is there another problem elsewhere.

BTW, I have checked and re-secured the main grounds already.

sounds like you have a wiring issue or a shift lock solenoid problem.

The key will removable if the shifter is in park.... well there is a sensor on your shifter that tells the lock solenoid in your steering column that it is in park....

me thinks your sensor is going back..or have a wiring issue.

I put on a new neutral safety/range switch with no change in symptoms. I also unplugged and completely removed the shifter mechanism from the car. Nothing changed there, so I'm convinced it's something in the shifter. Does anyone know what sensors and switches the signal goes through that releases both the key lock and park solenoids. I've scoured my Haynes manual without finding a wiring diagram for the circuit involving these two pieces.

If you take off the lower portion of your steering console... you will see the shift lock solenoid. it has to be compressed in order to send the signal through the circuit. Its possible the little plastic piece that holds it compressed cracked off....

I had that happen in my S10..... that was fun to trace back to a little plastic piece.

think of it as 3 pieces of a puzzle that have to be connected in a certain way in order for it to work.... without one.... nothing will work.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did pull the column cover off the other night when I did the testing. I didn't notice anything that looked broken or anything like that, but I wasn't exactly looking for a broken piece, either. I'll check it out tomorrow when I get home from my afternoon class.

I considered that as a possibility, but the brake lights still work fine. I can give it a try, still.

I ended up removing the ignition lock solenoid, and upon doing that, my shift lock problems went away, too. I believe the solenoid may have been shorted internally. I never could get it to activate even when applying 12 volts directly to it.

That gets old after a while. Try removing the ignition lock solenoid. After I did that, my shift lock problems haven't come back.

I removed the whole thing from mine. Un-plugging it should have taken care of the problem if it was going to go away, though. Did you check your BTSI fuse next to the glove box? Also, check the wiring to the shift lever.