Wont shift out of park

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
That IS for an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions don't have "park", and you can start the engine in any gear. I'm not sure, but I don't think you could get a manual transmission in a Durango in '99. I don't remember ever seeing one.

Older vehicles used a series of metal rods between the shifter on the column and the lever on the side of the transmission. A deteriorated engine mount will let the transmission sit lower. That changes the relationship between the transmission and the shifter linkage and can cause it to be out of adjustment.

Newer vehicles like yours use a cable. Those aren't affected by engine mounts but they are attached to a bracket. If the bolt holding that bracket works loose, the outer casing on the cable will move back and forth a little instead of pushing and pulling on the cable. That is the most common cause of what you're describing.
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DURANG0
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  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE DURANGO
1998 Dodge Durango Four Wheel Drive Automatic

My 1998 dodge durango will not move from where it was parked. I can shift in and out of park/neutral/drive/reverse, but when I give it gas, it does not move. The car will lurch like it wants to move, but it seems like the brakes may be locked. The car starts with no problem, even in the cold.
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VICTORYFREEZE
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  • 2 POSTS
Hey, I have a durango and I was looking for the answer to a different issue but your question was the first that I ran into. I am not a mechanic but I had the same problem with my durango a few years back. The issue was with the transfer case on my 4-wheel drive. My case had a hole in it and the gears rusted locking up my transmission. This could be it, or maybe not. But hopefully this helps you get started.
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KROSSBUR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE DURANGO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 96,000 MILES
Recently we find that we cannot move the gear shift immediately after starting the vehicle. However, after the car warms up for 2-3 minutes, we can shift it fine and don't seem to have any problems the rest of the day. This happened a week ago and we had no problems all week until today and it happened again this afternoon.
Please advise.
Thank You.
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
So it wont come out of park until it runs for a few minutes? This sounds like it may be an issue with the shift-lock, there isnt any other thing that will keep it from shifting from park. When it wont shif out of park, se if the brake lights are working, if not it may be an issue with the brake light switch that activates the lock solenoid for the shifter. If they are working it couldl be the solenoid itself that is sticking.
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ABRAHAM CASTILLO2
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
All I did was change my brake light and it let me shift out.
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Tuesday, August 30th, 2022 AT 6:07 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Excellent addition to this thread! Please feel free to use 2CarPros anytime!
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Tuesday, August 30th, 2022 AT 1:20 PM

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