see this guy?? thats me scratching my head!!! 82 pontiac firebird. So anyone know how the shift interlock works or how its wired?? I can start my car and rev it up but it wont shift out of park. I took the center console out and disconnected the shift interlock cable from the shifter... its shifts now but... now the key gets stuck sometimes and wont come out!! I feel like the car is laughing at me or its just tired and wants to die.. Can anyone help me figure out this new problem?? Im thinking its a electrical or mechanical problem. Is there a solenoid inside that cable bracket on the steering column? what does that rod do up to the switch?? I cant find a wire diagram anywhere for that interlock. Lots of questions... any help would be helpful!!! Thanks

 

Sounds like the other end of the shiftlock cable is damaged where it fixes to the ign switch, and is fouling the switch. Just one little screw holds it in, if I recall correctly.

Replace the cable it or remove it entirely.

 

That's because there IS no schematic. It's entirely mechanical.

If this is the same car with the other mechanical problem involving the ign sw, it sounds like it's been stolen and sodomized; might want to just get another column and be done with it.

 

it is the same car.. but i figured out the mechanical key start problem, i had to lower the steering column and adjust the ignition switch .. but still has the interlock problem.. it has 4 wires into the brake interlock but i cant figure out where they go. when i step on the brake i thought there should be a click like from a solenoid inside of it. but i hear nothing.... ignition key still gets stuck and the shifter still wont come out of park... temperarilly ive removed the cable from the shifter.. but its not right and annoying since i cant take the key out.. my question is, if there is wires going into the interlock mechanism what controls it or what does it control???

 

You're way overcomplicating it - it's just a cable, no wires or solenoids, nothing to do with the brakes. You've already disconnected the shifter end, just disconnect the ign switch end and you should be good.

 

This is about the best I could find in a 88 Firebird service manual. Should be similar.

 

Thanks guys for the help.. but i took some pictures of the shift interlock piece ive been talking about.. I really dont want to disconnect it. Id rather just fix it so it works the right way. Ive got kids and i dont want them to try to shift it by mistake if im not in the car.. So with that said I see 4 wires going into it and would like to know where they go or would like to know how this piece works electronically... Thanks for any help..

 

That looks like the high beam switch, nothing to do with the shift lock.

 

oh yes your probably right!!! i didnt think about that, but why is the shift interlock cable going into it??