97 Grand Prix won't come out of park

My 1997 Grand Prix GTP is stuck in Park (with key on and brake depressed) unless I push the gear selector unlock button.

I have the service manual and have tried all the diagnostics up until it tells me to check the transmission range selector actuator on the column. It is a console shift so I don't understand why there would be anything on the column.

The key will also not turn back to the lock position for key removal. It is either in Run or Start but will not turn all the way back.

It was an intermittent problem until last weekend when it decided to not work at all. Fortunately it was in the garage when it happened.

Anyone ever heard or experienced anything similiar? I've spent 2 nights at it and am at a dead end. Thanks!

Wade

i had the same problem..... then it finally went back to "off" -- now i can't get the key to turn anymore in mine......

To my humble understanding if your car has floor shifter then the tranny range selector is on the floor. Is the one that disengages when you press the brake pedal to allow you to actually shift the tranny out f park. My car drowned and never replaced this part and in my particular case if I force it a little without pressing the brake pedal it will allow the release button on the shifter to be depressed and will allow me to shift.
If you take the shifter console out you will see a small cylindrical actuator at the shifter base with a cable attached to it. I am not sure if disconnecting the cable will allow you to use it until a new one is installed but at this point would not harm to try, I think.

I have taken the console out and see the actuator. If I push the shift release button, I can get it to shift. Sometimes it will work several times in a row and then stick in park again. I unplugged the wiring connector and sometimes when I plug it back in the actuator will pop out and let me shift. Most times it does not.

I have not had the key stick and not turn (hopefully I won't).

I'm going to try replacing the Tranaxle Range Switch on the transmission and see if that helps. I'll let you know how it works out.

Thanks for your thoughts. I do have the service manuals for a 1997 Grand Prix so if anyone ever needs me to look up something, drop me an e-mail at wmhosic@yahoo.com.

Wade

I have a 97’ Grand Prix GT that started doing something similar about a year and a half ago. It actually started keeping my key in the ignition or the shifter wouldn’t come out of park. At first I just had to give it a little time or turn the car off and on again a few times and it would work, but of course it finally locked permanently. Now I have to use the key manual release button (inside the steering column) and shifter manual release button. Every time I want to drive my car. The key will go in and start the car I just need the release to get the key back. The shifter will off course not come out of park. Anyway to make a long story short it sounds to me like a couple people on this thread are starting to have the same problem. I was told by the Pontiac dealership when I brought it in that it was more then likely the Theft Control Solenoid. However they wanted to replace it, the ignition switch and the shifter. I was not happy. The mechanic told me it was very common and the only way to be sure too permanently fix the problem was to replace all 3. I would have had it done if not for the extreme cost of doing so (a couple thousand dollars), so for the last year I’ve just been using the manual releases. I personally think it should be a recall issue because everybody I’ve met with a 97 has had the same problem, that and the alternator going out a lot.

If anyone gets it figured out PLEASE let me know how you did it! E-mail me at biffs-mail@juno.com

not a related problem but useless info:
did you know if your key is in the ignition and you disconnect the red terminal from the battery you can't pull your key out until you reconnect the battery, bah must be theft guard i figured.

My '97 AND my friend's '97 had almost the same problem. Both of us would have times when our keys wouldn't come out of the ignition. I would sometimes have to put the car in reverse, back it up, put it in drive, pull forward again, put it BACK in park, and hope the key came out. If not, repeat process. I lightened my keychain by carrying only the bare essentials...car key, house key, Keyless entry remote, and my pontiac keychain. It did it less after that. I think I read somewhere that it might have something to do with the BTSE solenoid or something like that. After I lightened my keychain it was very rare that it happened, and I think the same goes for my friend, so neither of us ever investigated further.

I too, think this is a recall issue, because what are you supposed to do if you go somewhere and your key won't come out of the ignition? Even if you have keyless entry or a spare key and lock your doors, a car sitting with a key in the ignition just screams "Steal me! Steal me!" I'm sure GM would rather replace a few parts than have to replae cars because they were stolen due to a factory defect.

nah gm wouldn't have to replace the cars, they would just get to sell more of them because the owner's insurance company would pay it off if wrecked, but then a suit or class action could be filed and you'll see results 10 years later...

My '97 AND my friend's '97 had almost the same problem. Both of us would have times when our keys wouldn't come out of the ignition. I would sometimes have to put the car in reverse, back it up, put it in drive, pull forward again, put it BACK in park, and hope the key came out. If not, repeat process. I lightened my keychain by carrying only the bare essentials...car key, house key, Keyless entry remote, and my pontiac keychain. It did it less after that. I think I read somewhere that it might have something to do with the BTSE solenoid or something like that. After I lightened my keychain it was very rare that it happened, and I think the same goes for my friend, so neither of us ever investigated further.

I too, think this is a recall issue, because what are you supposed to do if you go somewhere and your key won't come out of the ignition? Even if you have keyless entry or a spare key and lock your doors, a car sitting with a key in the ignition just screams "Steal me! Steal me!" I'm sure GM would rather replace a few parts than have to replae cars because they were stolen due to a factory defect.




i have a 2000 gt. im having problems shifting into park. no trouble getting the key out of the ignition. here is what i do....without the overide button beside the shift....turn the key as far as you can without starting. then turn it back a couple spaces and i can put it in N and start the car.

my steering wheel also wont lock when turned off and the light designating P N D 3 2 will turn off or flicker. if it is off then i know i cant shift to D from P and when i turn the key back a few space when the lights come back on that is when i can shift...go figure!!!

I had the same problem with my 2000 GT. Guess what??? Here's what is wrong. I replaced the shifter ($250) thinking it was the solenoid attached to it, and the P R N D 3 2 1 lights on the dash still kept flickering, and the key would not release out of the ignition when I put the car in park... So despite what the so-called pros in these forums say it's not the shifter solenoid.

There's a 10 amp fuse for the BTSI (see your owner's manual) which is the Automatic Transaxle Shifter Module. Believe it or not sometimes the fuse doesn't make contact with the fuse housing causing an intermitent connection that causes the BTSI that controls or signals the solenoid near ignition that the car is in park thus releasing the lock to work "off and on."

So here's what you do.... Take that fuse out clean it off, and then actually bend the 2 pieces of metal sticking out of the fuse in opposite directions so that when you put the fuse back in, it ensures a stronger connection to the pieces of metal inside the fuse housing. I did this and the lights no longer flicker, and everytime I have the car in park I can shift to other gears, and I can release the key out of the ignition.

It's funny sometimes you can't always listen to ASE certified techs in these forums 'cause they steer you into buying extra parts you don't need just like the dealers do.