Hi all

I have a 2008 Chevrolet Captiva. Great car. However it’s frequently not starting in P. The gear stick gets locked. I can’t push down the button the move the gear and also the brake peddle doesn’t push down as much as it should. All the lights turn on, air con comes on, radio is on also. Just can’t shift it or start.

What I discovered was that keeping it in N seemed to avoid this issue. But now it also won’t start in N, but I can move the gear stick, unlike when it’s in P.

Usually if I shift the gear stick backwards and forwards a few times, then try turning the key in the ignition again, it will work again. But now I have to do this quite a few times and sometimes can sit there for 5 minutes. Which is this heat isn’t great.

I live in Saudi and we are advised to change the battery in the car every year. However when it was doing this in March 2019 I changed the battery and a few weeks later it was back to doing the same thing .

I haven’t had the battery changed since March 2019 and even though it is probably due for a change I don’t think this will help the issue.

I’m wondering if it’s the ignition that needs replacing or something else which is locking the car in park. I can use the release to get it out of P but I don’t want to have to keep doing that every time I start the car.

Any advise appreciated!

 

sounds like a failed brake switch