Park to reverse hard to move lever

Yes the brake lights work. This switch has power to it at all times, not allowing the shift to come out of park, unless you push the brake peddle. So
by pulling the wires off, it doesn't ever have power to energize the solinoid
to lock it into park. This does seem backwards, but this is really the way
it's wired. Easy fix, but I did loose one safety feature. A feature that practically stranded us many times till I figured it out.
Brian

Cobra21 wrote:
Many rigs including my Chev. M.H. have the safety switch/relay that makes sure your brake peddle is pushed down before you can shift out of park. If your switch is acting up it will do exactly as you have described. This switch I think was located at or near the base of the steering column and brake peddle. It has a 2 wire switch, and I unplugged 1 or both wires and have had no further problems. And yes...you can now pull mine out of park without pressing on the brake peddle. I did not replace any parts, pulled the wire 5 years ago and am a "Happy Camper"
Brian

Was your Chevy a P-30? There are two switches side by side on mine, looks like a momentary switch that has a button sticking out maybe 1/4 in or so, once you press the pedal down a 1/2 in or so the switches release. So I don't see how pushing the brake pedal hard to the floor will do anything if the switches are the issue.

Yes a P30. It has been 5 years since I did this. I can check tomorrow but one of the switches is most likely the brake lights, and the other for the park release. You only have to push down on the brake pedal normally for this to release from park. Pull the wires off the one that does not look like the brake light switch and try that. Make sure the brake lights still work after doing so.

Cobra21 wrote:
Yes a P30. It has been 5 years since I did this. I can check tomorrow but one of the switches is most likely the brake lights, and the other for the park release. You only have to push down on the brake pedal normally for this to release from park. Pull the wires off the one that does not look like the brake light switch and try that. Make sure the brake lights still work after doing so.

. Thanks, what I have is two switches side by side, one has a 4 wire harness going to it, based on your post I am thinking that is the brake light switch, the other has two 2 wire harnesses going to it, I am thinking this is what you are describing as the park release switch. At any rate I spayed silicone spray on each one because they seemed to be hanging up a little. My foot brake switch would not go on all the time also so I sprayed that one also and it is smoother and came on every time I depressed the foot brake a 1/2 in down. I am hoping this works for the park release switch also. Will check tommorow when I move.

Gjac wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Gjac wrote:
It seems to be random on flat surfaces and wheel pointing straight.

Do you use 'parking brake'?

(Engage parking brake PRIOR to removing foot from brake pedal)

The only time I use the parking brake is when I use the jacks. This just started on this trip out west. I will try the parking brake next time it is difficult to shift.

You should get in the ha it of always using the parking brake. Park is not ment to keep your RV from rolling.

Gjac wrote:

Cobra21 wrote:
Yes a P30. It has been 5 years since I did this. I can check tomorrow but one of the switches is most likely the brake lights, and the other for the park release. You only have to push down on the brake pedal normally for this to release from park. Pull the wires off the one that does not look like the brake light switch and try that. Make sure the brake lights still work after doing so.

. Thanks, what I have is two switches side by side, one has a 4 wire harness going to it, based on your post I am thinking that is the brake light switch, the other has two 2 wire harnesses going to it, I am thinking this is what you are describing as the park release switch. At any rate I spayed silicone spray on each one because they seemed to be hanging up a little. My foot brake switch would not go on all the time also so I sprayed that one also and it is smoother and came on every time I depressed the foot brake a 1/2 in down. I am hoping this works for the park release switch also. Will check tommorow when I move.

I think you have it now. My switch was sticky and I opted to not
have it once I discovered by taking a wire off it would never work
and I didn't have to have this safety feature that could cause further
problems. Also I'm the only driver and always put my foot on the brake when changing gears.
Hope you have fair travels, Brian

rhagfo wrote:

Gjac wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Gjac wrote:
It seems to be random on flat surfaces and wheel pointing straight.

Do you use 'parking brake'?

(Engage parking brake PRIOR to removing foot from brake pedal)

The only time I use the parking brake is when I use the jacks. This just started on this trip out west. I will try the parking brake next time it is difficult to shift.

You should get in the ha it of always using the parking brake. Park is not ment to keep your RV from rolling.

. On the Chevy auto park system putting it in park is the same as using the foot brake. When you put it in park a pressure switch releases the pressure and the drum brakes are activated at the rear of the transmission. There is no parking pall like on a car or truck.

Cobra21 wrote:

Gjac wrote:

Cobra21 wrote:
Yes a P30. It has been 5 years since I did this. I can check tomorrow but one of the switches is most likely the brake lights, and the other for the park release. You only have to push down on the brake pedal normally for this to release from park. Pull the wires off the one that does not look like the brake light switch and try that. Make sure the brake lights still work after doing so.

. Thanks, what I have is two switches side by side, one has a 4 wire harness going to it, based on your post I am thinking that is the brake light switch, the other has two 2 wire harnesses going to it, I am thinking this is what you are describing as the park release switch. At any rate I spayed silicone spray on each one because they seemed to be hanging up a little. My foot brake switch would not go on all the time also so I sprayed that one also and it is smoother and came on every time I depressed the foot brake a 1/2 in down. I am hoping this works for the park release switch also. Will check tommorow when I move.

I think you have it now. My switch was sticky and I opted to not.
have it once I discovered by taking a wire off it would never work
and I didn't have to have this safety feature that could cause further
problems. Also I'm the only driver and always put my foot on the brake when changing gears.
Hope you have fair travels, Brian

. My switches turn out to be good. After fighting with it for another day and some reasearch I ended up pulling the two wire harness of of the solenoid inside the steering coulum and that has allowed me to shift out of park.

Happy you got it resolved. It's an awkward feeling when you can't even get it out of park!
Brian

My problem as I said in the OP was intermittent and the solenoid was not the problem after all. It turned out to be part of the autopark system called the gear shift lever position switch located under the driver side wheel well. I never knew it existed until Roger pointed this out to me. There is a cam assy that controls the switch that need lubrication, it was impossible to reach with out using grease on the end of a 2 ft stick. It shifts very smooth again. If you have a 1994-1998 P-30 and you notice it starting to be difficult to shift from park to any gear that cam assy may need to be lubed.