Shift hard to move

In the LeSabre as well as my previous cars, it was always hard to shift out of park if the car was on a slope. Something got bound-up. This time it was still hard to move the shift for a day after, like whatever part got bound-up stayed that way and then corrected itself. Does this sound familiar?

Reply to
Tom Del Rosso
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"Tom Del Rosso" wrote in news:ll8jnn$qe0$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Yes. It means you're not using the parking brake.

This is the correct sequence:

1) Drive into final position and use the foot brake to stop the car 2) KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL 3) Apply parking brake 4) Shift into Park 5) Shut off engine and remove foot from brake pedal.

When you want to drive somewhere again:

1) Step on brake pedal 2) Start engine 3) KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL 4) Shift into gear 5) Take off the parking brake 6) Take foot off brake pedal and move the vehicle.

Following this will mean the lever should move easily from selection to selection and stay that way all the time.

Reply to
Tegger

All correct, but GM shift cables often need replacement, too. They can cause high effort shifting. Why this one would get stiff, and then loosen up again is beyond me, though.

Reply to
Bill Vanek

lol, Tegger, was thinking that b4 I even saw your reply!

GW

Reply to
Geoff Welsh

From the time I started to drive I used it every time, until some guy in a service station said it wasn't necessary. It's not the first time I was right and followed bad advice, but I wish it didn't take so long to find out. Thank you.

Reply to
Tom Del Rosso

You might want to Google search for "parking pawl". There are some good explanations there about how it works.

Reply to
Paul in Houston TX

Here's what I do. Apply the parking brake and then shift to N. Slowly let off the brake and see if the car moves. If it stays fast, shift into P and then go have yourself a beer. If it slides downhill, set the parking brake with more pressure until the car will not move. Then set to P and go have yourself a beer. If your parking brake is so shitty that it can't keep your car from sliding, then no beer for you. Too bad.

Reply to
dsi1

If you live in the flatlands it's not a problem to dispense with the parking brake. If you were in San Fran you'd want to use it a lot.

Reply to
Ashton Crusher

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