You’ve shifted the selector into Park, but your car won’t budge; your Chevy’s transmission is clearly faulty.
If your Chevy Colorado won’t go into Park, there’s an underlying problem in the transmission, and you shouldn’t drive at that point.
Here’s all you should know about the Chevy Colorado Park gear problem and how to fix it.
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What Causes a Chevy Colorado to Not Go Into Park?
The Park gear is so important; it’s how you lock the transmission. If your Chevy Colorado is not shifting into Park, worry because it will result in the car battery draining.
It also means that you will be unable to shut down the vehicle and, in severe cases, unable to unlock the doors or remove the ignition key.
This problem does not mean that you cannot physically shift the gear. Instead, the vehicle cannot detect the shift signal you are sending.
They are several causes for this defect, but all road points to Chevy Colorado’s transmission or shifter system.
Some of the reasons why your Chevy Colorado can’t switch to park mode include the following:
1. Defective Brake Light Switch
The brake light switch controls gear selection in automatic vehicles. When the brake light is malfunctioning, you won’t be able to remove your car from Park.
Your Chevy Colorado won’t detect the slowing or halting of the vehicle and hence will not signal that the car is about to go into Park.
2. Faulty Wiring Or Shift Interlock Solenoid
A shift interlock solenoid works to prevent the driver from moving out of Park mode without a foot on the brake pedal. It is a safety feature in several modern vehicles.
If the shift interlock solenoid is damaged, the car will not transmit signals that it is ready to go into park mode. Consequently, it will keep preventing the car from going into Park mode.
3. Faulty Transmission Shift Cable
The Transmission shift cable connects your car transmission and the shifter. Any fault or break in this cable will result in your car’s inability to shift into park mode.
If there is a break in the thread, the shifter will not move. You will be unable to move the gear into any position at all.
4. Damaged Transmission Shifter Cable Clip
The transmission shifter cable clip properly connects your shifter wires to your transmission and shifter box.
If the transmission shifter cable clip is damaged, you won’t be able to switch to park mode or any other transmission.
5. Worn Out Ignition Key Tumbler
Your Chevy Colorado’s ignition key does more than starting the car. It also locks the car’s steering wheel once you remove the key.
In most automatic transmission vehicles, the ignition merges with the shift interlock solenoid to work correctly.
If the ignition tumbler is faulty, it will lock out the transmission, making it difficult to shift into or out of the gear park.
6. A Broken Shifter Mechanism
The shifter is the main component for changing your car into any gear position, including Park mode. If the shifter is broken, there is no way you can go into Park mode or any other gear position.
How To Fix a Chevy Colorado Not Shifting Into Park?
You don’t want to drive a car having shifter problems; it’s risky. The problem requires an immediate solution because it can cause your vehicle to roll involuntarily, and the car battery is also at risk due to drainage.
Under normal circumstances, your Chevy Colorado’s shifter should last the car’s lifetime, but sometimes these issues arise and require prompt attention.
The best way to fix your Chevy Colorado that can’t shift into Park mode is by taking the vehicle to a repair shop. The technician will determine the cause and repair or replace it as necessary.
Most car owners use a DIY method to fix this problem temporarily. However, we do not advise it. These methods include the following:
1. Adjusting Shift Cable
You can adjust the shift cable by putting the gear in Park mode and checking the transmission pan for the cable attachment point. The transmission pan is where the shift cable attaches to the holder.
Adjusting the cable is a bit technical, so if you have zero knowledge about auto repairs, you can skip this part.
- Shift the Chevy Colorado gear into Neutral. Since you’ll be monitoring the gear movement from underneath, you need someone inside the vehicle to change the gears for you. The person has to be seated in the vehicle before you begin.
- Use a jack stand to raise the front part of your vehicle and then secure the rear wheels using wheel chocks.
- Locate a set of two nuts behind the bracket and tighten them using a wrench.
- Ask your buddy in the car to change gears while you observe the bracket’s movement. If the cable is still loose, ask your buddy to shift into Neutral.
- Repeat the process till the cable is secured but not too tight, so it doesn’t snap.
If you wish to tighten the cable at an auto repair shop, you will pay about $100. In some cases, you will have to replace the shifter cable, which costs between $200 and $600 for parts and labor.
2. Manual Parking
You could try to park the car manually from underneath the lower dash and plate. But not everyone knows how to park their cars manually. Here’s a quick guide.
- Remove the front clevis from the transmission shifter and adjust the length to fit correctly inside the pan.
- Close up the transmission pan and attempt to put the car in parking gear again.
Note: This method will only work if your Chevy’s shift problem only occurs when you want to move into park mode. But, it is almost useless if the shifter does not transfer to other gear positions.
You might also want to check out: Chevy Colorado 4-Wheel Drive Problems (Solved)
Conclusion
If your Chevy Colorado won’t go into Park when you want it to, do not try to force the shifter because that may damage it.
The issue might not be the shifter but rather some other electrical or mechanical part of the transmission.
Call a mechanic if one is close to you, or have the car towed to the nearest repair store. The mechanic there will inspect the vehicle to determine the cause and repair it accordingly.
