[smercado212]

Hello, I'm reaching out because I want help or advice about a problem I've encountered with my 2005 Chevrolet Astrovan.

Last year I installed a new radio system with a screen and backup cam. It worked great until last week where it seeems to have just lost power or there was some sort of shortage and it wasn't turning on. I then disconnected all the wires and reconnected them again, and it was working once again just fine. But after doing this, I can't turn the key past the electrical component notch to actually get the vehicle running, and my transmission will not shift either.

I wanted to know if there was something that involves the radio which I might have accidently messed up while reconnecting, and if someone can help me identify what I might have touched to cause this issue. It happened after reseating/reconnecting the radio to get it functioning again.

 

[Rustbelt_mVan]

It sounds like the shifter may not fully be in Park. In order to remove the bezel for the HVAC, Radio, Instrument Panel etc, you possibly had to move the shift lever to make it happen (I usually pull the lever down to first when I'm removing that bezel). Try playing with the shifter and the key.

 

[smercado212]

It sounds like the shifter may not fully be in Park. In order to remove the bezel for the HVAC, Radio, Instrument Panel etc, you possibly had to move the shift lever to make it happen (I usually pull the lever down to first when I'm removing that bezel). Try playing with the shifter and the key.

Hello, I managed to turn the vehicle on just now fine, but the shifter does not move out of parking and I cannot drive it. Also, I cannot remove the key because the notch does not move all the way back in place to remove it.

Vehicle is now stuck with key inside, and will turn on but I cannot shift it to reverse to take it out of my garage because shifter is stuck. I really am confused and don't understand what is causing this.

 

[dchan51360]

There's a safety interlock that sounds like it's not engaged properly or engaged in the wrong position.

Some how you got them out of sync.

You are not supposed to be able remove the key unless the vehicle is in park and you turn the key to the full off position. You are not supposed to be able to move the shift linkage out of park unless your foot is on the brake. Stepping on the brake with the ignition on is what disengages the shifter lock out. It sounds like you might have disconnected the brake switch that releases the interlock and in your jiggling around with the key and shifter to get the key to turn, you might have gotten the "hard interlock" partially disconnected so you can't pull the key?

 

[dchan51360]

Just reread your initial post. If you were playing around with wiring to turn on the backup camera, It's possible you got into some of the wiring that fires/releases the safety interlock for the shifter to keep you from going from park to reverse without your foot on the brake.

 

[dchan51360]

do your brake lights turn on when you step on the brake? Is it possible you accidentally disconnected the brake light switch? this would keep the interlock from releasing your shifter. If it was partially released at one point, then it's possible that the interlock is hung up part way. stepping on the brake with the ignition in the "on position" might allow you to shift through all the positions to get everything back in sync.