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Gear shift stuck?

Tiny
JOE CALLAGHAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 10,000 MILES
How can I free gear shift. Can only move from D to M and back.
Monday, December 28th, 2009 AT 5:31 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,650 POSTS
It is a linkage problem. Don't do anything. The car should be under 100% warranty. If you try something and cause more damage, they may not cover it.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Saturday, January 16th, 2010 AT 10:06 PM
Tiny
RONALD11656
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU
What needs to be done when car starts but cant shift from park to any gear if we turn off car and restart it will work sometimes?
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
That would be called the shift interlock feature. It operates on the same circuit as the brake lights so the first thing you want to do is to make sure the brake lights are working when this problem is present. If the brake lights are working, that proves the circuit is good up to that point, then you'll have to get to the solenoid in the console. Disassemble as much as you have to to access the solenoid near the shifting mechanism. Us a 12v test light to test for power coming and going at the solenoid when the brake is applied. If power is arriving and switching and the solenoid is not triggering, the solenoid is bad and will have to be replaced.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DENNIS SHAFFER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 60,000 MILES
Car will not come out of park.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,347 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a interlock shift solenoid that has gone out or a fuse that is blown.

I would check the fuses first and then use a test light to see if the solenoid is getting power and if so replace the unit. Here is some guides and diagrams (below) that will help you get the problem fixed:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Please run some tests and get back to us we are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AM32776
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,500 MILES
I have a 1998 chevy malibu that gets stuck in park and is hard to push in the release button to shift gear, once out of park it's fine.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RAMIS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Most people do not understand that the parking brake is there for a reason. Before you put your car in the park position use the parking brake also known as you e-brake. This will stop your car from moving front or back which will stop your car from getting stuck in the park position. To get it out of park get a friend to push your car front or back depending on the incline that your car may be in. While he/she pushes you change the gear. This is a common problem in parking spots that are inclined because people do not use there parking brake. This could eventually lead to transmission problems.
I hope this helped out a little.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RAMIS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
If that does not work try hitting the brakes. Most newer cars have a safety that does not let you shift the car without you hitting the brakes. Just putting this out there because I know some one who called me because he could not shift out of park and it was because he was not hitting the brakes.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GADGETMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 128,000 MILES
My car gets stuck in park whenever the outside temperature dips below sixty degrees F. The button that needs to be pushed in on the console stick in order to put the car in drive will not budge until the car warms up for about twenty minutes or more, a real waste of gasoline! As I stated earlier, this only happens when the temperature drops below sixty degrees F. During the warm summer months it works just fine. My biggest concern is the safety hazard, my kids when they use the car to go to work and they have to sit in the car late at night waiting for it to warm up before they can drive home. I am really hoping this is something I can take care of myself. I have spent way too much money on repairs to this car already! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Hello,

There is a shift interlock solenoid that sticks on these cars. Below is a diagrams to help you see if it is working. When you press the brake pedal down also check to see if the brake light work. You may need to replace the solenoid.

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find.

Cheers
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GADGETMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you so much! Your suggestion worked and I cannot tell you how relieved every member of my family is over this. We have been stumped by this for a long time and have tried a lot of other things and were sure that we would ultimately have to spend hundreds of dollars making yet another repair to this poorly engineered massive disappointment of a car.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Glad all worked for you.
Thank you.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TLREDFOX
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 97,000 MILES
Transmission is stuck in park and wont shift. What should I check for?
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
Disconnect the shift cable from the transmission and make sure it is not the transmission. Most likely it is the shift interlock.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)

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