Lessica Jake

we've had our 2004 for a little over a month now, and lately, we've been having problems with it getting stuck in park. go out and start the truck, try to move it and it wont shift. it's an automatic, and it seems like it's just not getting a signal from the brake telling it that it's okay to change. anyone else have this problem? any ideas how to fix it? my husband is going to try & get it to the dealer today to have it looked at, but they're a bunch of idiots so i thought i'd get some other opinions.
thanks.

papaduck

If you are parking on an incline and you do not set your parking brake first it can cause the the transmission to bind in the park position.

Mike_Boutet

I'm not 100% whether or not the rams are using this, but some use a switch . When the brake pedal is depressed you should be able to hear it click. No click- no release. Let us know how you make out.

TURBO98

MY NEW 04.5 WON'T COME OUT OF PARK UNTIL THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT, SOMETIMES TAKES A FEW SECONDS

natstayl

Keep us posted we're all eager to hear the solution.
Nat Taylor

handymantim

You may have tried this already, but......

Push harder on the brake pedal.

Wait longer after pushing on the brake pedal before trying to shift.

handymantim

If pushing on the brake pedal harder or waiting longer for the interlock to release maybe this will help.........

OPERATION
The system locks the shifter into the PARK position.
The interlock system is engaged whenever the
ignition switch is in the LOCK or ACCESSORY position.
An additional electrically activated feature will
prevent shifting out of the PARK position unless the
brake pedal is depressed approximately one-half an
inch. A magnetic holding device in line with the park
lock cable is energized when the ignition is in the
RUN position. When the key is in the RUN position
and the brake pedal is depressed, the shifter is
unlocked and will move into any position. The interlock
system also prevents the ignition switch from
being turned to the LOCK or ACCESSORY position,
unless the shifter is fully locked into the PARK position.

ADJUSTMENTS - BRAKE TRANSMISSION
SHIFT INTERLOCK
Correct cable adjustment is important to proper
interlock operation. The gearshift cable must be correctly
adjusted in order to shift out of PARK.
ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE
(1) Remove the steering column trim as necessary
for access to the brake transmission shift interlock.
(2) Shift the transmission into the PARK position.
(3) Pull upward on both the BTSI lock tab and the
gearshift cable lock tab (Fig. 75).
(4) Verify that the shift lever is in the PARK position.
(5) Verify positive engagement of the transmission
park lock by attempting to rotate the propeller shaft.
The shaft will not rotate when the park lock is
engaged.
(6) Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Be
sure ignition key cylinder is in the LOCK position.
Cable will not adjust correctly in any
other position.
(7) Ensure that the cable is free to self-adjust by
pushing cable rearward and releasing.
(8) Push the gearshift cable lock tab down until it
snaps in place.
(9) Locate the BTSI alignment hole in the bottom
of the BTSI mechanism between the BTSI lock tab
and the BTSI connector.
(10) Move the BTSI assembly up or down on the
gearshift cable until an appropriate size drill bit can
be inserted into the alignment hole and through the
assembly.
(11) Push the BTSI lock tab down until it snaps
into place and remove the drill bit.
(12) Install any steering column trim previously
removed.

deje

On my 03 the shift cable bracket was a little bent,causing the cable to bind.One time it wouldnt come out of park on a ferry with 50 cars behind me that was a little slice of heaven. Took the dealer about 1 hour to resolve it .Never acted up again.

dodgedude361

i too have eperienced this problem, but usually after a couple of tries i get into gear. i`ll have to keep my eye on it to see if it gets worse

spots

Any automatic that I owned I bypassed the shift interlock mechanism. (Thanks Audi) They are prone to problems, many moving parts. May be driver error, but usually an adjustment. But what do I know I was just one of those "idiots" at the dealer...

JKE

spots - change your handle to "village idiot".

Lessica Jake

i'm not saying all of the people at dealerships are idiots, just the ones we got our truck from...


pushing on the brake harder doesnt help, you can practically stand on the thing and it wont move. nor does the brake click when you press it.

it has taken up to 20 minutes to get the thing out of park, so i dont think it has to do with the brake light.

it's never been a problem on an incline, only on level ground.

thanks for the suggestions.

spots

Done.

Dodgezilla

MIne does it too but I just push the brake pedal a couple of times and then it will come out of park. It only does this when it's cold and after warm it works properly....

jrs_dodge_diesel

My 01 does it rarely, but it still does it. It doesn't bind completly though, it just gets real stiff but it will move. It does it randomly and its real sporadic.