I have a 97 Chevy S10 pickup...cannot move shifter out of park

There is a switch on the brake pedal that you must fix. This allows you to shift out of park only after the brake is applied.
Assuming since it goes in Park that its an automatic otherwise if its a shifter on the floor there is an actuator under the rubber around the shifter which if you lift it up yiou will find that you can manually move the piece which allows you to move the shifter.

I giggled the transmission shifter in park... heard a relay click then was able to remove key.

There may be a brake pedal switch sensor that determines when you have the brake applied. Normally if the pedal is down the pedal switch activates and removes a "lock" that would keep the shifter from moving.

Ordinarily when this happens you have to physically move the lock or replace or adjust the brake pedal switch to get the shifter to move freely.

If the car is not in "PARK" properly (the transmission can be in another gear even if the shifter "seems" to be in park - this would require an adjustment in the shift linkage) then the key won't turn to start.
Likewise until it is "properly" in park or neutral you may have difficulty locking the steering column and removing the key.

I've had that happen with vehicals that have an automatic transmission. If youi do, make sure the vehical is in park. Hope this helps> good luck! Jeanebop

Push gear selector up past park and it should loosen up, or press hard on the brake pedal. Shifter up past park usually loosens it up. Common GM problem.

You can remove the interlock off the gear shift or maybe spray some crc on it otherwise probably a loose wire or switch

look at the bottom side of your steering column, the plastic covering... There's a little round plastic piece that is removeable, it's pretty much right under the ignition key switch. Remove it. If you can see up in there, there's a small round metal piece, that's the release for the key to turn. Try pressing is gently with an ink pen and turning the key at the same time.

replace the shifter assembly.I replace alot of them.use this bulletin as a reference.Subject: Various Concerns With Shifter and/or Ignition Key (Replace Shifter Assembly/Shifter Components or Ignition Lock Cylinder )


Models: 2005-2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit (Canada Only)

2007 Pontiac G5

with Automatic Transmission 4T45-E (RPO MN5)

Some customers may comment on any of the following concerns:

• The shifter is hard to move or binds.

• They cannot remove the ignition key.

• It takes high effort to rotate the key.

Cause 1
The shifter button may be sticking in the handle.

Cause 2




The pin that activates the micro-switch may have moved out of position (refer to illustration above). This causes the micro-switch to fail to engage when the vehicle is placed in Park. If this condition is present, the customer will not be able to remove the key from the ignition.





The illustration above shows the switch in a correct position.

Cause 3
Metal flashing left in the cylinder may cause a high effort to rotate the key.

Cause 4
The slider may be binding in the guides. This may cause the shifter to become difficult to operate.

Correction 1
Verify that the shifter button is inoperative by evaluating if the park pawl pin on the shifter assembly moves when activating the button. If the parking pawl does not move when the button is activated, the shifter handle will have to be replaced. Refer to Floor Shifter Control Knob Replacement in SI.

Correction 2
Important: A change has been made to the shifter assembly for service. The replacement shifter assembly will read PRNDIL (Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Intermediate and Low).

Verify that the micro switch is out of position. Replace the shifter assembly. Refer to Transmission Control Replacement in SI.

Correction 3
Important: Refer to instruction sheet that is supplied with the lock cylinder kit. BO 47869 is an essential staking tool and must be used for the repair.

Replace the ignition lock cylinder. Refer to Ignition Lock Cylinder Replacement in SI.

Correction 4
Replace the slide indicator and guides in the shifter following the procedure below:

Apply the parking brake.
Remove the upper console trim. Refer to Trim Plate Replacement-Console Front in SI.
Remove shifter knob. Refer to Floor Shifter Control Knob Replacement in SI.
Remove the indicator plate. Use a flat-bladed screwdriver to release the locking tabs.
Remove the shifter indicator lens.
Pull up on the indicator and remove it from the assembly.
Remove the two front rails by unsnapping the front and lifting up, and then back, to remove the rails from the shifter assembly.
Install the new guides. Place the hook end into the assembly and push down. It will snap into place.
Install the new slide indicator. With the transmission in neutral, place the slide over the shifter and into the guides. Move the slide indicator down the guides in the front and rear.
Important: Replace the shifter indicator lens if damage is present due to the slider binding or if it becomes damaged during disassembly.

Install the shift indicator lens.
Install the shift indicator plate.
Install the shifter knob. Refer to Floor Shifter Control Knob Replacement in SI.
Install the upper console trim. Refer to Trim Plate Replacement-Console Front in SI. post back with what you find.

i've had this problem before. it is more then likely the ignition switch. if the key gets stuck like you say

there is a safety switch that prevents the ignition from being turned off and removed while in gear. try putting in nuetral and removing the key. if it does then it is a problem with the shifter and not the ignition.