Problem

[kdr315]

hey e1, something new popped up. Ok I parked my car to get gas, when I was done and ready to leave my shifter was stuck and my break lights don't work, but the lights work when you turn on headlights, so could it be the break pedal switch?

[xintersecty]

yes it could be the brake pedal switch. you must have an automatic with some kind of interlock. Did you get it unstuck?

[AndrewButler05]

Mine did that about 6 months after I bought the car. However, mine wasn't the brake pedal switch. My brake lights were fine, so I took apart the lower console and quickly discovered the problem. If you look at the picture that I have attached, there is a small red wire running under the shifter plate. That wire is attached to a extremely cheap small square black switch. That switch was fine, but the plastic tabs that hold it in place were broken off. From what I understand here's what actually happened, that switch slid inward and was actually preventing the shifter from coming out of park. That switch is what tells the ECM that the car is in park, and that it's safe to allow the key to be moved to the "lock" position and removed.

I super glued it back in place with the thought that if it ever did break again, I would have to replace the switch entirely regardless due to it being such a simple design. That being said, I highly doubt it will ever break again in the cars lifetime. It has been almost two years since I glued it, and it's still perfectly fine.

I would say something similar happened to you, however since your brake lights stopped working that points to the brake switch. You should still be able to use your key to bypass the interlock with the key slot on the shifter. Put it in neutral and then start the car, you wouldn't have any brake lights but at least you could move it. That was the first thing I tried, and it still would not come out of Park because of the switch physically blocking it.


Just my two cents,




Here's the attached pic:

[kdr315]

Good News, Problem fixed, was the brake light switch.

[AndrewButler05]

Yay!

[Chevy Customer Svc]

Good News, Problem fixed, was the brake light switch.

Glad everything's worked out, kdr315! Have a great weekend!

Amber N.
Chevrolet Customer Care

[xintersecty]

Glad that worked out for you!