HHR stuck in Park
11-29-2013, 07:36 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-29-2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1
HHR stuck in Park
I have break lights and it makes the clicking sound like the lock sound but it wont'tallow me to move from park. My car is a 2010 hhr.
Last edited by 843de; 11-29-2013 at 08:03 PM. Reason: Revised thread title
11-29-2013, 08:01 PM
#2
Deceased
Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
You have a problem with your shifter, the shift lock solenoid is probably getting hung up preventing you from shifting out of park, it happens most often in cold weather or when sticky liquids get spilled on the shifter.
Give this thread a read....
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/shifter-stuck-sticks-37727/
If you're mechanically inclined you can try to access the shifter mechanism yourself, or you can head to your dealership or mechanic.
You may find that it functions properly again when it's warmer, only to act up on the next cold evening.
P.S.
to the forum!
Give this thread a read....
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/shifter-stuck-sticks-37727/
If you're mechanically inclined you can try to access the shifter mechanism yourself, or you can head to your dealership or mechanic.
You may find that it functions properly again when it's warmer, only to act up on the next cold evening.
P.S.
to the forum!
11-29-2013, 08:09 PM
#3
Platinum Member
Join Date: 12-06-2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 11,089
Welcome to the site. 
Sounds like an automatic that the gear selector safety switch is not releasing to let the shifter move. Cold spell where you live? Could be stuck because of a temperature drop. Try lightly knocking on the shifter to see if it will free it up.
Make sure you have your foot on the brake. Don't want any "Uh Oh" accidents.
Sounds like an automatic that the gear selector safety switch is not releasing to let the shifter move. Cold spell where you live? Could be stuck because of a temperature drop. Try lightly knocking on the shifter to see if it will free it up.
Make sure you have your foot on the brake. Don't want any "Uh Oh" accidents.
Last edited by firemangeorge; 11-29-2013 at 08:14 PM. Reason: Deleted stuff because of 843de!!!!
11-29-2013, 08:35 PM
#6
Technical Moderator
Join Date: 01-23-2009
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 24,670
Those 2 ideas are good, if the problem is the button on the shifter will not move. If the button does move then the problem is in the steering column area.
A quick possible fix is to remove the chrome bezel (it just pops off). You may be able to see the small shaft and solenoid on the driver side under the shifter, try to get the straw from a can of WD-40 or your favorite down in there with a spritz. You may need to do some more dis assembly to get to it, most of the pieces pop off, there might be a couple of screws under the cigarette/cellphone bin.
See the pic in post #5 of the above referenced thread. That shifter looks a little different, but the pieces we are talking about are the same.
A quick possible fix is to remove the chrome bezel (it just pops off). You may be able to see the small shaft and solenoid on the driver side under the shifter, try to get the straw from a can of WD-40 or your favorite down in there with a spritz. You may need to do some more dis assembly to get to it, most of the pieces pop off, there might be a couple of screws under the cigarette/cellphone bin.
See the pic in post #5 of the above referenced thread. That shifter looks a little different, but the pieces we are talking about are the same.
Last edited by donbrew; 11-29-2013 at 08:38 PM. Reason: addition
12-02-2013, 02:21 PM
#7
Banned
Join Date: 12-02-2013
Location: Ozarks, USA
Posts: 156
Are you parked on a hill? I just read that it can get locked up because of pressure on a pinion (or something like that) if you release the foot brake while in park before engaging the hand brake (or something like that). It says to get someone to push you uphill a bit to release it.
12-02-2013, 04:36 PM
#8
Deceased
Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
It's called the "Parking Pawl", and yes parking on a hill can bind the transmission in Park.
The proper way to park on a hill with an automatic transmission is to stop the vehicle, select Neutral, set the parking brake firmly, then shift into Park. That way the parking brake is holding the vehicle with the Parking Pawl in the transmission acting as a fail-safe.
When it's time to go, select Neutral again, then release the parking brake. If you do it this way you'll never have your transmission bind up on a hill.
The worst thing to do is trying to force it out of Park, you can break the shifter, shifter cable, or the Parking Pawl...which is bad news.
The proper way to park on a hill with an automatic transmission is to stop the vehicle, select Neutral, set the parking brake firmly, then shift into Park. That way the parking brake is holding the vehicle with the Parking Pawl in the transmission acting as a fail-safe.
When it's time to go, select Neutral again, then release the parking brake. If you do it this way you'll never have your transmission bind up on a hill.
The worst thing to do is trying to force it out of Park, you can break the shifter, shifter cable, or the Parking Pawl...which is bad news.
