Question: Why can't I get the shifter to move from Park to drive or reverse. It is a floor shifter. My 2006 Chevrolet Impala won't shift out of Park gear. I turn the key and stepped on the brake like always do, press the button on the shifter and try to move it. It won't budge. The button barely even moves in when I press it.
I checked all the fuses like my friend told me to do but they were all okay. I would hate to have to pay for a tow truck to take it to a repair shop if it is something easy I can fix myself. I'm not mechanic but I can fix some small things if I knew what the problem was. Any help you can give would be appreciated. I just hope it's not a problem in the transmission.
Answer: this is a fairly common issue with later model Chevrolet Impalas. The problem is most likely a broken wire on the shifter release solenoid. This solenoid needs to disengage when you press the brake pedal and the shifter button. If the wire is broken, the solenoid will not release therefore the shifter will not move. The solenoid is underneath the shift console between the two front seats. It is on the passenger side of the console. The best way is to remove the entire assembly, but some mechanics have been able to get to it by just lifting up the bottom of the panel where it meets the carpet. Slide the passenger seat all the way back, and lift up the bottom of that trim panel and see if you can access it that way. There is an electrical connector that plugs into the solenoid. It has a couple of wires on it. If you can get to it this way you will have to remove the assembly. When you get to it, you will need to remove the terminal and spliced the wire back onto it, or splice a new terminal on to that wire and put it back in the connector. If this is not something you can do yourself, your local mechanic would be able to do this for a cost of approximately 1 hour labor.
Transmission Solenoid Replacement Cost
How much does it generally cost to put in a transmission torque solenoid in a 2003 Chevy impala?
Answer: That depends on where you are going to have the work done. The dealer is of course more expensive. The frame will have to be lowered to access the side pan of the transmission. Then the pan comes off and the solenoid can be replaced. You are looking at about 6 hours of labor times the shop labor rate and parts. Rough guess at the dealer- $800.
