Randomly will not shift out of park

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osukellen

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1999 Tahoe, 2wd...will randomly not want to come out of park. It happens only when it is hot outside (don't know if that has anything to do with it).

If it happens I just turn the key to unlock the column, shift into neutral, start, shift into D or R and go.

Checked the brake light switch...seems to be fine.

I have heard you can reset or take out the switch/relay in the column to fix the problem...so here are my questions.

1) Is this my problem?

2) If so, where is this switch, I can't find it? Should be right under the key in the access door, right?

3) What else could it be?

Thanks!
 

clean454

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this same thing happened to me i thought i was the switch but it happend to be that the linkage was loose at the tranny
crawl underneath driverside and check the linkage at the tranny

this mite not be it but it was my problem
sounds like the same problem u have
 
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osukellen

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Thanks for the reply...just checked it and it seems to be fine.

Could the linkage be the problem even if it is intermittent? I would think it would fail all the time if that were the case...I don't know though.
 

blizz

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i have a problem when i turn it on cold.....i have to let it sit there and "warm" up before it'll get itself in gear. if i dont, i'll give it a little gas and after a few seconds a THUD and it's in gear. what's up with that? i changed the transmission fluid about 6 months ago and it had stopped, now all the sudden it's doing it again.
 

bertbunch6

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Unable to shift out of Park

I had the same problem. Look at the bottom of the column shifter under the dash. You will find a small metal rod connected to the column shifter and runs back to the switch under the dash. I did not have the tools or dexterity to remove and replace the switch. So I just disconnected the small rod from the column shifter. You could easily remove it completely, but I tied it up under the dash so that I would know where to find it later.
 

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