Chevy Equinox Gear Shift Stuck – What's Wrong?

Your Equinox shift may get stuck because of the issues with the shift control module or wiring that connects this unit. Also, the problem may be with the shifter itself. You shouldn't forget about other issues like brake pedal switch or incorrect use of parking brake when parking your car on the hill.

Gear shifter problems highlights

• Level of importance:High
• Reasons:Shifter damage, wiring problems, software glitch
• Needed expertise:Medium
• Needed tools:Basic tools plus diagnostic tools
• Time taken:0.5-4 hours
• Can you drive? Yes, if it shifts
• Possible issues: No way to move your car, shifter is broken, need for tow truck.

Specific Equinox problems with the shifter

The stuck gear shift is a common problem for the Equinox with the 6-speed automatic transmission. This is the second-gen model (2010-2018) and also some of the third-gen SUVs (2018 - now). These transmissions have a shifter that can go bad because of high moisture levels or other conditions.

Actually, there are several common reasons for this:

1) The shifter control module failure

The control module is what sends the information about the position of the shifter to the ECU and TCM (engine control unit and transmission control module). Those modules then operate the transmission and choose the proper mode and gear for driving.

Sometimes, the control module may not see that the shifter is in Park and may block it from moving due to a misunderstanding between different modules. This problem may sometimes be solved by disconnecting the battery which I will obviously tell you about in detail a little later.

2) Wiring in the shift control

This module can still be functioning but the wiring in this unit is not really reliable. If one of the wires goes bad, the shifter won't move because the module doesn't get and send the information anymore. It means the system will block the shifter to avoid unexpected reactions from the car when you try to shift.

Also, the broken wire may mean that you will be able to move the shifter but nothing will change and the car will still be in Park. Unfortunately, the Equinox will not throw any warning lights or messages to tell you about this problem. So, diagnosing it may be pretty hard.

What are some general reasons for shifter being stuck in the Equinox?

Now, I want to move to general reasons why the shifter not moving in your Chevy. They are not exclusive to the Equinox but can affect almost any car with an automatic transmission.

Here's what you should pay attention to:

1) Parking pawl stuck

If you park your car on an incline and don't use your parking brake before releasing the brake pedal, the parking pawl may get stuck on the parking gear. It's a pretty unpleasant situation and you shouldn't park your vehicle like that - watch a video with more information on why it is bad.

In this case, you can ask someone to push your car forward a little so that the parking pawl can be relieved. It may take some effort though. Also, the pawl may brake and this will lead to serious transmission repairs.

2) The brake pedal switch is dead

Any modern car doesn't allow you to shift out of Park unless the brake pedal is pressed. This is the safety feature because if you shift to Neutral, the car may start rolling back causing accidents before you can react.

But how does your Equinox at all know when you press the brake pedal? It has the brake switch right above the pedal. This switch doesn't only tell the ECU that the brake pedal is pressed. It also lights up the stop lights on the back of your car. And this is how you can easily check if the switch is working.

If it's dead, you will need to replace it. Even if you manage to somehow shift out of Park, driving without stop lights going on when you press the brake pedal is not a good option.

3) Transmission damage

If there is a problem with the transmission, the shifter may get stuck in its current position. This is mainly done to prevent further damage. Usually, you will also see the check engine light or other warning lights along with different messages on the dash. It's important to read the message and to understand what you can do in this situation.

4) The battery is low or dead

In any modern car, when the battery is low and has poor voltage, a lot of things will stop working or will develop heavy glitches. Almost anything can happen and you can see almost any warning light or error message.

Checking the battery is easy if you have a multimeter. It should have about 12.5 volts when the engine is off and up to 14.5-14.7 volts when the engine is running. Also, if the battery is that bad, you won't be able to start the car as usual. In most cases, it will not crank or will crank very slowly.

Also, it's worth checking the alternator - it may give bad voltage and the system may glitch.

Some DIY ways to get out of the situation

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do if the shift control is broken or there are issues with wiring. Also, if the brake switch is dead, you won't be able to bypass it any other way but by connecting two cables that are attached to it. I don't recommend this unless you perfectly know what you are doing.

But there are some things you may try doing:

• Try shaking your car - this may help you relieve the parking pawl and shift out of Park if the car is on the incline.
• Try disconnecting and connecting the brake switch if this is the problem. Before this, check if the brake switch turns on the brake light when you press the pedal.
• Disconnect the battery for 5 minutes to reset the control modules. Disconnect the negative terminal, then the positive one. When connecting them back, start with the positive terminal.
• Call a tow truck because there is nothing much else you can do without parts and diagnosing equipment.

If nothing helps, you will need a tow truck. The car that is stuck in Park is impossible to tow any other way but with a professional tow truck. Keep in mind that the Park mode may block all four wheels if you have an AWD or 4WD car. So, you should specify this when you are calling for help.

Also, I don't recommend road assistance as it may cost you three times more expensive than repair in the shop. Also, road assistance isn't always capable of repairing your car right there and then, so you may just waste your time and money.

How much is it to repair the Equinox after the shifter is stuck?

The price of repair will depend on many things like what exactly causes the problem and how bad the breakdown is. If you keep trying to pull the shifter and eventually break something, the price of repair will certainly skyrocket.

If the problem is only with some wire, the repair will most likely cost you 2 hours of labor (count this for your shop) and about $20 for parts and materials. But if the shift control needs to be replaced (which is not so uncommon for the Equinox 6-speed transmission), add another $200 to the price of repair.

Eventually, the price of a repair will most likely be reasonable. The only way your costs may get unpleasantly bad is if the problem is with the transmission. In this case, the transmission will need to be taken off the vehicle and inspected. The price for such repair is hard to predict even if you are an experienced mechanic.

Final thoughts

It's not that pleasant experience when you can't shift the car out of Park. If the shifter is stuck, you may feel frustrated and lost. How can you move your car from this place? Will you need to pay for the tow truck? And is the problem covered by the powertrain warranty? Unfortunately, the problem is only covered by the general 3-year warranty and the towing is one of the best ways to deal with the problem.

But, in this article, I've also told you how you can try and solve the issue on the spot without paying extra dollars to mechanics and towing companies. You may try all these DIY solutions. But if something serious is broken in the car, there is no way you can solve it on your own unless you are a good mechanic.