i've tried everythin but my car won't shift out of park. i've tried following the driver's manual instructions too but it still won't shift out of park. i was able to get it to shift after messing with it for like 10 minutes so i was able to get home but now that i'm home, i'm locked in park again! someone please let me know how to fix this! help!

 

I dont want to sound rediculous, but you are pressing the brake to shift out of park right? It may be something with that switch/safety mechanism.

 

of course i'm pressing the brake. i dunno what to do. i'm pretty sure i've tried everything.

 

This used to happen to me a lot.

Try this-turn car on and pull e-brake up all the way(not too much). Turn car off with e-brake up and let it sit for a good hour or so. After an hour, turn car on and lower e-brake. Then try shifting to Reverse. If it still doesn't shift, DO NOT FORCE IT! Your tranny is under a lot of stress.

Now, every time I park somewhere, even if it's not on a hill, I pull up the e-brake. This releives stress off the transmition. And I'll do anything to help my tranny cause the auto trannies have a reputation of falling apart if driven harshly.

Hope this helps

 

Do you hear the "click" of the shift lock when you step on the brake pedel? I believe that lock works off the brake light switch. See if your brake lights are coming on when you step on the brake. If they aren't, then you might wanna check the switch on the brake pedel.

The lock iteslf may have failed as well. I don't know how to override that lock. Might want to give your dealer a call. Perhaps you need to take the center consol out to get it unlocked at this point.

 

ALWAYS use your parking brake. When I bought my Max used this happened the first 5 or so times I tried to start the car and it was a real pain in the rear to get into gear. I started using my parking brake everytime I park. Haven't had a problem since, and that was over a year ago. One other note of advice that helped me get into gear with the tranny stuck, make sure you are pushing the shifter button in "squarely" and not at an angle. You make think you are pushing it in squarely, when your not. It makes a bigger difference than you would think, at least with my 98 Max. Best of luck. Let us know if the Parking brake trick works.

 

thanks for the info. yeah i always use my parking brake even when not on a hill. oh, and i dunno if this has anything to do with the problem i'm facing now, but last night while driving, my cup spilled and tea went all over and i'm pretty sure some may have spilled on my transmission. i dunno if that would cause my problem or not. but anyway i'll go try rippin the console apart and checkin it out now.

 

Is the brake light switch mechanical with the brake pedal or is it pressure activated through the brake line? For some reaon just by noticing when the brake lights illuminate, I've led myself to believe that it's a pressure activated switch.

 

very likely the mechanism to unlock the A/T lever from Park is going bad

 

this happens to my 95 sometimes too, i just vigirously move my shifter in all directions and eventually it gets outta park, granted if anyone outside my car saw me do this....nevermind.