Temporary Solution Thread.

Ran into a problem today with my shifter staying locked in park. Key on, brake pedal down; the shifter stays locked in park. I did about 20 minutes of searching online and didn't really find a solution that matches the S10 Blazers with the console shifter (select 2-door LS models and ZR2 models). I found a temporary solution that will get the vehicle driving again, so I thought I would share it.

Exhibit A: This is the shifter.


There is a white tab under the shifter boot you can manually press that will unlock the mechansim so you can shift.

To remove the boot, press forward lightly on this piece I have my thumb under. Think of the base of the boot as a plastic oval-shaped ring with two plastic tabs on the front and back that are inserted into the console itself. Be careful because the plastic oval-shaped ring in the base of the boot could break (mine did).


Once the boot is off, here's the white tab I was talking about.


Just from shear trial and error (and luck) I discovered that pulling this tab toward the shift lever will unlock the mechansim so the shifter will move when you push in the shift button.
Shift to netrual, turn the key over, and start driving. Note that in my case being locked in park like this also means I have no crank, no start, no sound while in park.


My guess is that this is the piece that actuates when you push the break pedal down. So my problem could be the brake light switch and/or the shifter interlock solenoid.
Haven't diagnosed it further. Don't really have the time, but this is a quick hack (given this hardware) that will get the vehicle moving again.

 

Update:
Turns out the real problem is the netural safety switch bolted to the side of the transmission going bad. So if you feel the shifter feeling like it's not quite "clicking" into place as it should, it's probably that switch.

 

Thanks for that info. Hope you get your truck fixed up and running normal again.