Can't shift out of park

[siska]

OK I was having 2 problems all of a sudden. Truck would not start and it stopped shifting out of park. I pulled and tested the starter. It was bad. Replaced and now starts right up. I still can not get it to come out of park. I have checked the screws on the cables under the dash. They are fine. The brake lights work so I don't think it is the brake switch. Here is the other weird thing. If I disconnect the battery, I can turn the key to the start position and hold it, I can shift out of park. But only if I hold the key as if I am starting it. I do that and put it in nuetral and then reconnect the battery. Starts right up and I can go to any gear I want and it drives fine. But once I put it back into park, I can't get it out again without going through the process again. So what is keeping me from getting out of park without holding the key in the start position? Thanks

 

[kmh1596]

Welcome.

There is an actuator (can hear it, on mine) that is activated when the brakes are depressed. I'd guess these two problems are a coincidence, but unrelated.