1999 Grand Prix GTP won't shift into Park

[DaTT]

Just got a text from the wife saying when she got home from her outing, the car would not shift into park. After it was removed from D, it would only shift between R and N for several minutes of trying before it finally went into P.

A little internet research points me towards a shift/interlok switch of some sort....conflicting locations though, some say on the brake pedal and some say in the console on the shift lever itself.

Thoughts?....Ideas?....Quick.cheap fixes?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Fiddle with the key while trying to shift.

 

[AMCRambler]

Brake pedal switch? Not sure if that includes going back into park though. Could just be for taking it out of park.

Also with my manual transmission, depending on where the gears stopped turning I have trouble getting it into gear again. Usually letting off the brake and letting the car roll a little bit will move them enough to get in gear.

 

[DaTT]

Brake pedal switch? Not sure if that includes going back into park though. Could just be for taking it out of park.

Also with my manual transmission, depending on where the gears stopped turning I have trouble getting it into gear again. Usually letting off the brake and letting the car roll a little bit will move them enough to get in gear.

Tried that.

 

[boomerang]

As was said earlier, if the key was turned to off before shifting into Park, that would prevent Park from being selected. I've done this myself when in a hurry or when my mind is distracted by other things. That could have been what happened here. Some people are not going to get the connection between the key and the shifter.

Otherwise I think you've got a linkage problem. I would start under the car. Make sure the cable is anchored properly and that the linkage where it connects to the trans is connected properly.

If everything is OK there, I'd pull the console apart and make sure nothing has come loose in the area of the shift mechanism.

The interlock ensures the brake pedal is depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of Park. It will not inhibit shifting into Park. The signal comes from the pedal and it affects a mechanism in the shifter area.

From what you've said, there was a problem where the shifter was stuck in that it would only shift from Reverse to Neutral and it would not go into other gear ranges or Park. This sounds like linkage to me (unless it's a key problem like I mentioned above).

I would start underneath, because it's easier to check that out than to start digging into the console.

 

[Homer Simpson]

there should be a small plastic cover next to the shifter that says shift lock or something. pop that off and stick a screwdriver or pen or whatever is handy down in there to press a switch down. that should allow it to go to park. its been a long time, but i believe that is what temporarily fixed me when i had this problem. as i recall the actual part is $100 or so, so i just zip tied that switch in the down position (gotta remove part of the console if not all of it, its been too long since i worked on that car). it "fixes" the problem but also allows the shifter to move at any time, car on/off, key on/off, brake pedal depressed or not. all the "safety" is disabled with that switch engaged manually all the time. i lived with it like that for a few years til i sold it. now a friend owns it and i of course let him know what i did and to be careful if nothing else, hit up clubgp.com forums to search for additional info.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yes, there is an emergency way to do this as Homer said. Should be a little pry open door on the console.

 

[coxmaster]

Ive actually experienced what Home said. My car actually did that on its own. There was absolutely no need to push the lock down.

The shit lock was essentially always unlocked.

 

[DaTT]

Had everything apart last night, and it turns out that it is a faulty wiring harness.

 

[flynnaz]

Datt,
I have the same problem. My son's 1997 Grand Prix GTP will not go into Park, you can put it in any position but Park. I checked the linkage, and it seems to be fine. You said it was a faulty harness, can you tell me were it is? Is it the interlock harness?

 

[waffleironhead]

Datt,
I have the same problem. My son's 1997 Grand Prix GTP will not go into Park, you can put it in any position but Park. I checked the linkage, and it seems to be fine. You said it was a faulty harness, can you tell me were it is? Is it the interlock harness?

You might want to send him a PM. This is a pretty old thread.

 

[flynnaz]

Thank you, I will