Pontiac Grand Prix Forums : Grandprix

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.

__________________

'97 GTP: 9.5:1 Diamonds, XP'd, 3.4, Lucas 42.5#, Shiny Headers, Ported S/C and heads, N*, HPTuners
Coming Up: A 4T65E with a functioning TCC solenoid...

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.

__________________
2001 GTP street car- GT45 turbo,Stage 4 Intense turbo cam,FMIC,150 wet, double roller timing chain, Diamond forged coated pistons 8:0:1, Diamond piston rings, cryoed L32 connecting rods, Cryoed crank, Clevite77 main bearings, Clevite77 cam bearings, Clevite77 L32 rod bearings, ARP Everything, Intense/meizere true billet Flexplate, Custom UIM, Intense oil pressure kit, Cometic 4 layer head gaskets, OE-R lifters, Cryoed L67 block, ATI turbo dampner, SDD FATMAN FUEL RAILS!!!!!!!!!

Same.



Is the silinoid the same as a netural safty switch? If not I would look into the switch possibly being bad.

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.

__________________

'97 GTP: 9.5:1 Diamonds, XP'd, 3.4, Lucas 42.5#, Shiny Headers, Ported S/C and heads, N*, HPTuners
Coming Up: A 4T65E with a functioning TCC solenoid...

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.

__________________
2001 GTP street car- GT45 turbo,Stage 4 Intense turbo cam,FMIC,150 wet, double roller timing chain, Diamond forged coated pistons 8:0:1, Diamond piston rings, cryoed L32 connecting rods, Cryoed crank, Clevite77 main bearings, Clevite77 cam bearings, Clevite77 L32 rod bearings, ARP Everything, Intense/meizere true billet Flexplate, Custom UIM, Intense oil pressure kit, Cometic 4 layer head gaskets, OE-R lifters, Cryoed L67 block, ATI turbo dampner, SDD FATMAN FUEL RAILS!!!!!!!!!

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.

__________________
2001 GTP street car- GT45 turbo,Stage 4 Intense turbo cam,FMIC,150 wet, double roller timing chain, Diamond forged coated pistons 8:0:1, Diamond piston rings, cryoed L32 connecting rods, Cryoed crank, Clevite77 main bearings, Clevite77 cam bearings, Clevite77 L32 rod bearings, ARP Everything, Intense/meizere true billet Flexplate, Custom UIM, Intense oil pressure kit, Cometic 4 layer head gaskets, OE-R lifters, Cryoed L67 block, ATI turbo dampner, SDD FATMAN FUEL RAILS!!!!!!!!!

Good luck

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.

__________________

'97 GTP: 9.5:1 Diamonds, XP'd, 3.4, Lucas 42.5#, Shiny Headers, Ported S/C and heads, N*, HPTuners
Coming Up: A 4T65E with a functioning TCC solenoid...

the BOO (Brake On/Off) switch might be going bad. it is usually located on the brake pedal. i have seen several cars that had this switch go out and couldn't shift out of park

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

__________________

'97 GTP: 9.5:1 Diamonds, XP'd, 3.4, Lucas 42.5#, Shiny Headers, Ported S/C and heads, N*, HPTuners
Coming Up: A 4T65E with a functioning TCC solenoid...

Did you determine the problem with the issue?

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.

__________________

'97 GTP: 9.5:1 Diamonds, XP'd, 3.4, Lucas 42.5#, Shiny Headers, Ported S/C and heads, N*, HPTuners
Coming Up: A 4T65E with a functioning TCC solenoid...

thanks for the info.

Mine ended up being a rusty shift leaver. A little grease and it was OK. It was worn though and if it happens again then I'll need to replace it.

mine does the same thing lol. i just rigged the shift lock release button with zip ties to hold it down so it can shift out of park without having to press the button and i keep an allen wrench in my center counsel to push the little button underneat the steering wheel in order to get the keys out no worries.

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

__________________

'97 GTP: 9.5:1 Diamonds, XP'd, 3.4, Lucas 42.5#, Shiny Headers, Ported S/C and heads, N*, HPTuners
Coming Up: A 4T65E with a functioning TCC solenoid...