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The problem started out with it getting progressively more difficult to move the shift lever out of Park into Reverse and/or other gears until it would not do so at all. I then bypassed the shift interlock by using the procedure from the user manual, which is to put the key in ACC, apply the brakes, shift to N, then start the car. That is helpful, but now I cannot move the shift lever into Reverse. The only gears I can move the shift lever to are Neutral and Drive. The theory and operation information on the Shift Interlock system in my MitchellDIY online manual is very, VERY bare-bones, and makes numerous references to dealer-level scan tools, which I don't have. Complicating matters is the fact that one paragraph in the theory and ops section says that the solenoid moves to free the shift lever when energized. But in the component testing section, it says the solenoid is NOT supposed to move when energized.
As always, any ideas appreciated! For example, is it possible just to "undo" the shift interlock system so it won't lock up the shift lever at all? I'm am not at all averse to a "quick and dirty" solution if there is one to be had. Thanks! ~ Pop
I think the shift interlock solenoid only serves to keep you from accidentally slipping the shifter into gear from park.
So it shouldn't effect moving the shifter to any other position.
A hard to move automatic shifter is generally a bad shifter cable.
One or two times I've seen a park-neutral switch so stiff it made the shifter hard to move, and sometimes people drop stuff into the shifter gate, but it's usually a shifter cable.
Ran out of time to chase this in DIY mode so I took it to my buddy's shop. He took one look at it and said the wrong shift knob is installed on the lever. It came with the car so I had no idea.
He just took the knob off and it works fine now. I'll go to the junkyard and pick up the correct knob.
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