Can't take 99 Tahoe out of Park?

[douglasdouglasj]

This has been happening for a while now, and seems to happen more when the truck is in warm weather... After I turn on the truck and am ready to leave, I put my foot on the brake, and 'try' to take the truck out of Park.

What I have to end up doing is not only joggling the shifter, but also reapply the brake a few times before the shifter will release.

Ideas?

 

[MO Viet Vet]

May be a failed stoplight switch or shift interlock solenoid.

 

[lesterl]

Good idea Ron, how about telling us if you are parking on a steep incline also?

 

[MO Viet Vet]

Stuck parking pawl can be a bitch. That can be easier if you use your parking brake on the incline before you release the brake pedal and let the vehicle lurch against the parking pawl. Another good reason to make sure the parking brake works and is adjusted correctly.

 

[Fognozzle]

Sounds like your brake shift interlock went bad. It's a common problem and the owners manual gives you a step by step process to over ride it to get the vehicle out of park lock. I found that if I turned the ignition over 1 click, I could then get the transmission into neutral then start it in neutral. After tiring of explaining to friends and mechanics how to avoid park lock I decided to remove the part entirely. The brake shift interlock is located on the steering column. If you remove the lower dash cover it is very accessible and easy to remove.

 

[MO Viet Vet]

Or just replace it when you remove it.