Gear Shifter Button (Automatic Tranny) Gets Stuck
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Gear Shifter Button (Automatic Tranny) Gets Stuck This is a relatively new, and annoying problem that I am having with my 1998 Trans AM. After the car sits for a few hours, when I try to press the button on the side of the gear selector (to shift out of park), the button is stuck. I have to really squeeze hard, sometimes using both hands, to get it to move. If I need to shift again soon after, it doesn't get stuck.
Any explanations/solutions?
Any explanations/solutions?
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
Might just be the handle itself. I'd try removing the handle and pressing down the button on top of the shifter and see if it still happens. Only happening after the car has been sitting a few hours has be baffled.
maybe somehow the handle gets pushed hard towards the lock making it harder to squeeze the button. Kinda like if you pull up really hard on your e-brake, it's hard to squeeze the button to pop it out. Take off the cover and see if you can see where it's binding up at.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 63
From: Knappa, Oregon
The T-handle goes out some times. Mine on the '97 started that way. Pull out the little staple on the side and remove the handle to check things out. Shift to neutral first so the shifter is straight up. I had to replace my handle. Not a big deal, just one of those plastic part things.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
Turn the key on so you can put the shifter in first. Midway down on the handle (the side facing the dash) pry out the staple with a small screw driver. Once the staple is removed just pull straignt up on the handle.
The T-handle goes out some times. Mine on the '97 started that way. Pull out the little staple on the side and remove the handle to check things out. Shift to neutral first so the shifter is straight up. I had to replace my handle. Not a big deal, just one of those plastic part things.
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Push button This is a relatively new, and annoying problem that I am having with my 1998 Trans AM. After the car sits for a few hours, when I try to press the button on the side of the gear selector (to shift out of park), the button is stuck. I have to really squeeze hard, sometimes using both hands, to get it to move. If I need to shift again soon after, it doesn't get stuck.
Any explanations/solutions?
Any explanations/solutions?
