Stuck In Park. Shift Lock Release Doesnt Work.

[TFJ2U]

My 2000 GTP would not shift out of park. I had just replaced the battery to solve a problem of the key being stuck in the ignition (and failure to start). With the new battery, it would start but not shift out of park. I tried the shift lock release and BTSI fuse with no luck. I tried moving the shifter around as I pressed the shifter button (and brake pedal) and it didn't help. I popped up the center console cover to get to the wiring and shift lock release, but I could not remove the cover because you need to shift to neutral to get it off. I could feel around and see some of the wires, but I couldn't really check the connections or the solenoid. I gave up and called my mechanic. He went under the hood and put the car in drive manually to get it to the shop. He was about to give up too, then he found the problem. The shifter knob wasn't all the way down. It seems the clip that should hold the knob in place wasn't. He bent the clip to make it fit tighter and I haven't had a problem since. So if your shifter is stuck in park, make sure the knob is down all the way before trying something more involved (and expensive).

[jmflores1970]

Hi all! I just had this happen to me today when I got out of work. When I was going to work, some plastic crate pieces were scattered on the highway underpass. I thought I had gone around them all, but I drove over one piece and felt it hit the bottom of my car. I kept driving normally, got to work and forgot about it. When I was going home, the shifter was stuck in Park. I remembered driving over those plastic crate pieces and figured that's what caused it. I've never had any trouble with this 'til today, and my car is almost 11 years old. What's weird is that when I try to shift out of Park, I hear something clicking behind my instrument panel, so yeah, sounds like an eletrical issue. I had never used the Shift Release button before, so I was not sure how I was going to get home. I finally popped up the little cover, pushed in with my key and felt a small lever go down. That released the shifter and I can drive normally now. I just need to push in with the key everytime to get it out of Park 'til I can get it fixed. At least for now, my can't can't be easily stolen. LOL

[kjohnson]

I've got a new problem that I haven't read about. I sometimes cannot get my sifter out of park. Tonight I am going to check the wires on the bottom of the shifter. My problem is when the key is not in the ignition The car wont go out of park unless you use the manual release. I am fine with this the new problem is when I put the key in and start it or put it in the run position I am able to shift to any gear without touching the brake or the release. I really don't know where to start fixing this other then the wires. If I could get some pointers that would be awesome.

[jmflores1970]

Thanks to y'all, I knew what to look for on YouTube to fix this. I found this video posted by Turbo231. In my case, it was a red wire which got cut off from the quick disconnect clip. It was the only loose wire and only one connecter was missing a wire. I just stripped the wire with scissors and pushed it back in for now. Issue resolved. One day when I have the space & tools, I'll fix it the right way by soldering it.