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  #1  
Old 09-27-2004, 10:57 AM
KC-SVX
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Unable to shift my transmission out of Park.

This is a problem which occurred once about a month ago and now it appears to have become permanent. When it happened a month ago I just tried it about a hundred times until it worked. Now, I can’t get it to work no matter what I do. I’ve seen another thread which sounded like this issue, but the resolution to that thread was to lengthen the cable for the parking brake, which seems to have required dropping the transmission.

Here’s the issue: I can start the car just fine, but when I go to shift the transmission from Park, I am unable to depress the button on the shift knob. It acts as if the ignition is not in the On position or the brake pedal isn’t depressed, while both of those conditions are met. I’m looking for a solution that is a little more passive than dropping the transmission.

I’ve fiddled with the ignition, pulled up the parking brake and put it down, tried it with the brake up, tried it with the car running and when it’s just in the On position with the car not running. Nothing I do appears to help. Any ideas?
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  #2  
Old 09-27-2004, 11:45 AM
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Did u try the shift button near the gear selector? My car had this problem when the previous owner had it. He said some kind of pin needed to be replaced.
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  #3  
Old 09-27-2004, 11:54 AM
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Yeah, the override button on the console next to the gear selector should do the trick. But it sounds like the safety switch on the brake pedal is bad.

It wouldn't have anything to do with the parking brake or cable, so don't worry about having to drop the transmission.
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  #4  
Old 09-27-2004, 12:24 PM
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Lightbulb

I'm assuming you have the brake pedal pushed down...

Had my mom drive my 94, and she called me from a store, saying she couldn't get it out of park....I took off from work to go get her, and found out she hadn't been holding the brake down...in her car you didn't have to, so she didn't know better...

Just a thought
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  #5  
Old 09-27-2004, 12:35 PM
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override button?

What is this "override button on the console next to the gear selector"? Do all model years have this button? Mine is a '96 and, although it's possible, it's hard to believe I've never noticed it.
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  #6  
Old 09-27-2004, 12:50 PM
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I think You can jumper the safety switch on the brake pedal to get it to work
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  #7  
Old 09-27-2004, 02:46 PM
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Can anyone tell me where these things are located?

I was so excited to hear about this "override button" that I drove home to give it a try. I didn't see any kind of button anywhere around the gear selector, other than the Manual button.

There was a suggestion to jumper the safety switch on the brake pedal. I poked my head into the drivers side well and, looking up at the brake pedal, I didn't see anything visible that looked like it could be the culprit.

I don't suppose anyone would have pictures of either of these things?
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  #8  
Old 09-27-2004, 02:52 PM
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I'm not 100% sure on the 96, but the overide should be just that, a button in the plastic surround of the shifter...I think the later models actually might have a little plastic cap on that plastic surround that you have to pop off to get at the button, which is recessed for some reason...Or I'm completely off base
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  #9  
Old 09-27-2004, 03:00 PM
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The SHIFT LOCK button is atop the console immediately in front of the gear selector. At least, that's where it is on a '92. As to the brake/shifter interlock, I can't help you with "jumping" it, but it's likely on the brake pedal assembly, beneath the dash, not under the hood.

dcb
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  #10  
Old 09-27-2004, 05:08 PM
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In the later models, I think you have to remove the shifter surround, them remove a plastic screw, and then poke a small screwdriver down in the now open screw hole and push down to release it from park...but you'd have to do this every time, or wedge someting in there that would stay....
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  #11  
Old 09-27-2004, 05:43 PM
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At least I now have a workaround.

I removed the small plastic lid above and to the left of the gear selector. As a couple of you indicated, there was a screw which I removed and I am now able to pull it back and out of Park if I push on a small screw driver which is insterted in the hole where the screw was. Thanks for all of your help.
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  #12  
Old 09-27-2004, 05:53 PM
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You'r welcome...

Huck
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