I have a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am 2.4L. Why am I unable to shift gear out of park?

[djphillovesyou]

Also at times I'm unable to remove the key from the ignition. When I attempt to take it out of park I hear a click sound. Before today it was just real difficult to take it out of park now it seems impossible and when I was able to finally get it out of park it would go through the other gears with no problem. This shade tree mechanic seems to think its a motor mount problem but I don't know. That doesn't sound like the issue to me.

 

[AmigaJoe]

Does it just take a lot of force to shift from park or what did you you do in the past to get it out? Combined with the key issue maybe the switch in your ignition barrel is worn out and the car doesn't realize it's been started so it won't release from P?

 

[gmtechs]

check your brake switch

 

[2004pontiacgagt]

Re:

I had a similar problem on a 95 chevy K1500. The problem was with the safety mechanism that doesn't allow you to shift out of park if the brake isn't applied. I would often times have to fight with it for five or ten minutes before it would work. We simply removed that piece and I never had another problem. The down fall to this is that you can shift into gear without pushing on the brake.