BlooDSMeaR
New Member
Today I went to go garage selling, I went out to the car started her up, went to shift from park. no go the locking mechanism would not release to shift. Any Ideas and where should I start to look first.
Cant shift from park
- Thread starter BlooDSMeaR
- Start date
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The button that you push on the shifter moves a rod up and down which activates the lock mechanism. That rod or the lock mechanism itself must me broke. You are going to have to get under the console to see what's going on. Once under there you can manually shift it out of park. It's a pretty simple thing.
93markVIII
SHO Member
that mechanism will be just fine if its the brake interlock that isn't releasing.
OP, do the brake lights work? have someone check them when you step on the pedal. probably BOO switch.
I have had that symptom for each of 3 reasons:
1. the boo switch is not working or the connector is bad.
2. the fuse to the brake light circuit is blown for some reason.
3. the interlock cable is stuck.
If you want to eliminate the interlock, you can pull off the console cover, trace which of the little cables it is that has the locking tab that blocks shifter movement, and disconnect the shifter end of that cable from the console/shifter assembly. Once removed, you will be able to shift out of park at any time, just like the old days before they decided we were too stupid to be able to do such things...
1. the boo switch is not working or the connector is bad.
2. the fuse to the brake light circuit is blown for some reason.
3. the interlock cable is stuck.
If you want to eliminate the interlock, you can pull off the console cover, trace which of the little cables it is that has the locking tab that blocks shifter movement, and disconnect the shifter end of that cable from the console/shifter assembly. Once removed, you will be able to shift out of park at any time, just like the old days before they decided we were too stupid to be able to do such things...
BlooDSMeaR
New Member
Resolved : It was the BOO switch. I didn't have break lights, The shifter was not allowing me to shift from park. To shift from park to drive it for the day, I disconnected a battery terminal. Once the power was cut, the shifter worked. I put it into neutral and just didn't put it back in park. I did my driving around (with out break lights) for the day. My dad told me that afternoon they were not working. I went and picked a BOO switch for $14.00 and to my surprise, all I needed was a pair of pliers and 3 minuets of time. I pulled the spring / cotter pin out slid the switch over and it swung down and out. replaced the new switch into position. I made sure to put the bushings back in place. Installed the pin and off I went.
Mr Anonymous
Tire Wall
FWIW, next time this happens you can turn the key to the detent just shy of the run position, put the shifter in neutral, start the car and shift into gear just fine. Each time you put it in park though you'll have to repeat the above with the car off.
hawkeye18
Sorta cares
Dammit, I was coming to this thread to say exactly the same thing.
It's also a good way to troubleshoot it to the switch or related wiring - if you can shift it out of park in the ON position, the problem is not in the mechanical linkages.
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