Chevy Volt shift to park message, cheap fix.

This is my solution to stop the shift to park message on a Volt. The micro-switch that people think is bad is supposed to have a lifespan of 100,000 uses, I'm pretty sure the shift lever button is sticky.

[@captivethoughts1745]

If this fix doesn't work for you and you cannot get your Volt to turn off, a new connector and wring harness are free as well the install at your nearest Chevy dealer (reference GM Service Bulletin 19-NA-206, dated February 2020). Let me stress that if you cannot get your car to turn off (Chevy Blazer, Malibu, Traverse, Volt, GMC Acadia), you 12 volt battery will run low and be killed if you don't get it to a dealer ASAP. The dealer will not give you a free battery ($200) plus battery test socked me for $234. So if you cannot get it to a dealer, disconnect the 12 volt battery in order to save it. If you get it to a dealer, disconnect the battery when you get there and alert the service department that you did so. GM will reimburse them for the installation of the harness and shifter, not the battery. That's on you. Just figure I'd give you a heads up.

[@Teri-InTransit]

Bump this reply! Although I also bought a new shifter and had all replaced at the same time. 👍🏼

[@barbaramitana8816]

I'm going to take mine to the dealer. Thanks for the information!

[@barbaramitana8816]

I saw the comment about the GM Service Bulletin 19-NA-206. My 2018 Volt should be covered by the Voltec Warranty. I'm going to let the dealer take care of it.

[@yker9139]

Good for me. DID ALL THAT WITH MY DAUGHTER. DONE IN 12 MIN. REALLY HELP FULL. 🎉 First time was with the Voltec warranty. 3 years ago😢

[@kenyoung4222]

After several weeks of frustration, this issue was finally repaired on my 2019 Volt under the Voltec Component Warranty per Technical Service Bulletin 19-NA-206 at no charge by a "REPUTABLE" GM dealership, Dave Kirk in Crossville, TN. Shout out to Leteshia (GM's/BBB customer service representative" and the customer service staff at Dave Kirk Chevrolet!"

[@barbaramitana8816]

I'm taking my 2018 Volt to the dealer for this too. Thanks for the input!!

[@321gogoman4]

Thank you for this video! This fixed my STP issue. I was about to go purchase the parts on TSB, but I stumbled upon this video and it saved me time and 💰💰!

[@keithtownsend4956]

Mike, you are right about the sticky shift button/plunger. GM TSB 19-NA-206 says the first fix is to manually "snap" that spring loaded plunger at least 50 times (presumably to try to free it up). Then if that doesn't work, replace the microswitch and install the bypass harness.

[@evmike71]

I bought a 2017 Volt Premier a couple of weeks ago and it immediately began exhibiting the shift to park issue. I tried your method a few days ago. Problem solved!! Thanks!!

[@evmike71]

Two week follow-up. The only time I've seen the shift to park message has been when I forgot to shift into park. Don't waste your money on a replacement. All it takes is a little vaseline.

[@KeithRobertson1]

@@evmike71 Hey how did you manage to remove the shift boot? I tried just pulling like in the video but it doesn't come out like his

[@rayhubbe6423]

Hi Mike, Thank you for your helpful hints on how to take the shifter apart. I ended up using a different solution to the problem that I also found on KZbin at NoNonsaneseKnowHow. He is working on a Malibu but the shifter is exactly the same. He shows you how to use a piece of tubing to increased the diameter of the actuator. I also lubricated the shifter as you suggested. I works great and I think it will last.

[@philippevermeille9127]

Did anybody try with w40 instead of wax?

[@gmailcom-ii2to]

This fix makes no sense as it's an electrical issue. The micro switch contacts are being melted by a voltage spike.

[@Teri-InTransit]

I’ve done this fix several times. It’s always a temporary fix for me. I may end up replacing the whole mechanism on my own next. This fix usually lasts a few days/weeks and I’ve tried multiple lubricants.

[@gotey5243]

Could try what this guy did on a malibu if you don't want to go all the way and replace the whole thing. This video should start where he shows the hack fix. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIrdfJ6am8l0Z6s

[@BlazerPilot]

I agree. This fix is temporary.

[@frank78855]

It should be a recall.

[@BLAXAMUXA]

anal lubricant will work best

[@MrEnergyCzar]

The fix is covered under the 8yr/100k mile Voltec warranty, at least for 2016 Volts.

[@ArkansasEV]

Well yes but good luck getting the dealer to acknowledge it. I'm going through this now. I even printed the service bulletin from GM and took it to the dealer and they were not impressed and just kept saying 'it's not covered.' I called other dealers and they didn't even know what I was talking about.

[@MrEnergyCzar]

@@ArkansasEV I recall it being in the dealer GM computer system by searching for the name or number of the fix.

[@emptyb9968]

Gave your fix a go and so far it's worked on my 2017.

[@ImagineGTAVI]

Cyber punk

[@deloresbryant184]

This is an annoying issue. It should be considered a deffect that's free of charge to fix. Or, covered under a lifetime warranty. I have a 2017 Chevy Malibu. I started having this problem in 2020. Its súper annoying! Especially, if you are late for an appointment, and the car wont go into park, 😫 and you don't know why. Thank you for making this video.

[@keithtownsend4956]

Thanks Mike, my 2017 does the shift to park thing occasionally. Will try your method when it gets annoying!

[@glasspilot1]

Thank you, I have a 2017 that hasn't had this problem yet. I'll give it a look!

[@leoazn17]

I tried but couldn’t remove the boot on my 16 volt. Any advice? 🙏

[@sigmb6]

I can't believe that worked

[@getreal3336]

1st off, TY for this video. I watched the ads to show my thanks as well. 😉👍 If you find videos from people that are cool or help you, thank & support them by watching the ads. That said... SHAME ON YOU CHEVROLET! This is total BS that anyone should have to do these shifter repairs. Every car should be recalled and these issues should all be repaired by you Chevy! Lubricating the mechs, the cable extension and a new actuator switch. All 3 things should be done BY YOU! I will never buy a Chevy product again. You may cost me a couple hundred bucks and 4 hours of my time to repair this, but you will lose tens of thousands of dollars from losing my business! I STRONGLY encourage everyone to do the same. Thats how you really remedy this low quality, shoddy and pathetic issue. You kick em right in the wallet. Don't buy Chevy products any more. THAT'S when they'll get the message.👍 GL to everyone whos having these shifter issues, and thanks again for taking the time to do this video.

[@edge2science]

Feeling a tad embarrassed, I walked back to my car to see it was still pugged in. Unplugging the car the problem was gone haha

[@PFab]

Great work. Thank you for the info. Now, I just need to get mine out of limp mode. 😢

[@crsp76691]

Helpful for disassembly, i opened the console and bent the micro switch arm a smidge, seemed to do the trick.

[@Andrew-Comi]

well, it was a good try... did this, but it did not help for me. taking to dealer next week.

[@HiroTheWonderDog]

What is the tool that looks like a screwdriver with a right angle tip?

[@xnewguyx2738]

It’s a pick.

[@davidbassi8468]

Thank you

[@Basia.K]

It helps! Thanks

[@etb2159]

Thanks , I will try it ,just brought a 2017 and it started this , I'm also having trouble with the cruse control not setting?? Go figure , buy a used car and it starts ...

[@1gamewin]

Cruise control not setting, I’ve found is an issue with the brake pedal being very slightly pushed. To fix it on the fly while I’m driving, I put my foot underneath the brake pedal and physically pull the pedal up, then the cruise control will wanna set.

[@SP-cm8lg]

Thanks for the video.

[@cmonson122s]

Hey Mike. Just curious if you Volt started acting up again. Or did this solve it for you?

[@xnewguyx2738]

Once in awhile it acts up and I snap the button on the shifter a bunch of times and that seems to take care of it.

[@KeithRobertson1]

Is there any trick to unsnapping/removing the boot? I can't get it to come off that easily and I don't want to break any of the tabs.

[@evmike71]

I had a small screwdriver that I used to gently pry the tabs out of there seat. The plastic frame is pretty flexible.

[@davidpunke9271]

Is this fix still working? Just started happening to me and was going to give it a try. Thanks

[@xnewguyx2738]

I started getting the shift to park message occasionally again, I took apart the shift nob and lubed that, seems fine now. Video on that coming soon.

[@katella12]

@@xnewguyx2738 Michael: Thanks so much for this. Please where is your promised followup video? I need it!

[@patkob2180]

Hello What is the tool? And type of lube?

[@xnewguyx2738]

The tools are simple picks, I used a white lithium grease.

[@patkob2180]

@@xnewguyx2738 It was like -30 celsius yesterday...push it with a bif of force to unclick the button. Its only minus 15 today and the problem hasent come back yet...maybe extreme cold can stick the button to the plastic

[@sambharr]

Michael, for what it’s worth.. It was a matter of time I suppose, but like so many others, my 2019 Volt finally gave me the dreaded “Shift toPark” message. But I noticed that simply flicking the button, would fix the problem. Then I tried the flick trick in “slow motion” and found that it was not a smooth action. Per your video, this led me to believe (as I think it did you) that the plastic parts behind the button were the issue and weren’t making a full travel. Well, without taking the boot and shifter knob off, I tried the lazy way out first and sprayed the crevices behind the button with silicone spray. I will try it again with graphite spray just as soon as I find some, but for now all I had on hand was the silicone stuff. I imagine WD40 spray might have worked just as well. (I hear that you can now buy “siliconized” WD40 - never have found any locally though.) But for now, I’m getting full and smooth(er) travel and have not had the Shift to Park issue for a couple of weeks, whereas before the silicone spray job, I was getting it just about everyday. Thanks so much for your video. It’s good to try the simple and obvious things first. And yes, I have ordered the GM anti-surge harness and a new microswitch (easy and cheap fixes both) but I’ll only use them if I have to. Heck those microswitches are designed for 100’s of thousands of cycles and I just can’t imagine that many failing. Nor can I imagine GM designing the instrument electronics that might require added anti-arcing But I never say never.. Thanks again..

[@HuyLe-sb7cw]

I've tried this. It doesn't fix it for me.

[@xnewguyx2738]

Try taking the shifter back off and lube the button, there is a roll pin that can be poked out, and everything else in there. It's a bit of a struggle getting it back together, but that should do it.

[@HuyLe-sb7cw]

@@xnewguyx2738 Well, that's better. I took it out again and lube the heck out of the pin rod, rolling it around to make sure greases got deep down the pin. Now I can turn it off after squeezing/releasing the shifter a few times (it was permanently stuck before). I don't think this will last forever without replacing the shifter, but thank to you, I got it fixed, at least as a temporary.

[@toddleach3443]

@@HuyLe-sb7cw kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIrdfJ6am8l0Z6s If you encounter this issue again, here's probably the best cheap solution, much more effective than some lube!

[@HuyLe-sb7cw]

@@toddleach3443 Thanks, but that was for Malibu. Volt is a little different. Michael's lubricant method worked for only a couple weeks. I ended up replaced the volt shifter ($70) myself, and problem is gone for good now.

[@b3dgamedev928]

I've owned my 2017 Volt for one day. Bought it used with 17k miles yesterday. The car shut off in a fast food drive-thru with the shift to park message and now there's a check engine light on. It won't start at all. Is this the same issue?

[@renekanzler9896]

Yep same thing happened to me today

[@CJ57231]

Not sure if you've checked it out yet, but that sounds like an issue with the EGR valve. Something in it trips and blows the "No walk home" fuse and does exactly what you're describing.