Shift to P then select gear

[B29906]

I was sitting at a stop light this past weekend. When the light turned green, I pushed the accelerator and got a warning light stating "Shift to P then select gear". It was a little unnerving with a line of cars behind me. Anyone else have this issue and any idea what the root cause is?

 

[Scottie2Hottie]

Did it produce a CEL? Did you have your front glass tinted?

 

[Deange2001]

I was sitting at a stop light this past weekend. When the light turned green, I pushed the accelerator and got a warning light stating "Shift to P then select gear". It was a little unnerving with a line of cars behind me. Anyone else have this issue and any idea what the root cause is?

You can check out a post I made in the Problems/Issues page. I was going down a fairly steep hill. Hit traffic, was stop and go as we went down. I got to the bottom and was getting ready to make my right turn, went to push gas, car went nowhere. I had a flashing "D" drive gear. I put it into park, could not move shifter back to drive. Turned car off/on a few times. I think on the third or fourth time I was able to shift to drive and make the turn.

It was extremely unnerving with a long line of cars behind me, I had my two little kids in the car, trying to put my emergency flashers on and waive people by, which they can't get by because the fucking truck is huge.

Since then, not a single issue...who the fuck knows what is up with these trucks. My plan is that I will keep it until another serious issue like that comes up then I am offloading it. I don't care if I have to drive some base-model POS, as long as it is safe and reliable to get myself and my family around. Then again, it sounds like all trucks are having some pretty serious issues unless you want a Honda. We shall see what happens.

 

[Banger]

Did it produce a CEL? Did you have your front glass tinted?

What's the relation between the window tint and shifter?

 

[Scottie2Hottie]

What's the relation between the window tint and shifter?

One of the modules that relates to the transmission is located behind the dash. There are reports if moisture gets behind the dash (from window film install or similar) there is a chance the modules corrode and stop working. Anecdotal but a local guy had similar experience and had to replace a module behind the dash.

 

[Banger]

Ah. That makes sense.

 

[B29906]

Did it produce a CEL? Did you have your front glass tinted?

No, it did not produce a CEL. I did recently get my side windows tinted but the windshield is as it was delivered from the factory.

 

[NBradshaw142]

I had that happen once at a red light about 2 weeks ago (500 miles on the truck). I put it into park, shifted back to D and off I went. I thought I may have bumped the shifter into N but I was unable to replicate it, so I don't think that was the reason. Definitely uncomfortable sitting there at a light and the truck won't move, hopefully it doesn't happen again. No tint and it didn't produce a CEL.

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

Thought id chime in, My truck has been pretty much flawless but occasionally i will be shifting into Drive or Reverse and the truck will throw the " shift the P then select gear" code. I do this and then it works flawlessly. Maybe happens once every 5 times i drive it. I try to be pretty forceful when i shift to Drive because it seems to happen when i don't pull the shifter back hard enough into Drive. Seems like something funky is going on with the shifter. I have read other post, i think @daniellelaven022 , had her sifter replaced or something along those lines?

 

[eltaco]

I’ve had this happen once, and not since. No idea why. Thankfully I just did as it told me to do, and it shifted easily back into Drive.

 

[Steadi]

I’ve had this happen twice and I think in my case at least, it was because I shifted from D to R when I was still rolling forward and not completely stopped in my garage.

 

[Dark Knight G45]

This happened once to me only when I moved the shifter to the Left to enter manual mode.
That was the last time I used that and just use the paddle shifters now.
It hasn’t happened since that one time and I figured maybe I nudged it the wrong way.

 

[daniellelaven022]

Thought id chime in, My truck has been pretty much flawless but occasionally i will be shifting into Drive or Reverse and the truck will throw the " shift the P then select gear" code. I do this and then it works flawlessly. Maybe happens once every 5 times i drive it. I try to be pretty forceful when i shift to Drive because it seems to happen when i don't pull the shifter back hard enough into Drive. Seems like something funky is going on with the shifter. I have read other post, i think @daniellelaven022 , had her sifter replaced or something along those lines?

Sorry for the late response, my truck had a service shifter on my cluster twice and my shop foreman couldn’t duplicate it. They replaced the shifter bezel which I thought had a switch of some sort in it, turns out it just is the light bezel for the shifter. They’ve had issues with them in the past for other vehicles so he wanted to start there. I haven’t had issues since though.

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

Sorry for the late response, my truck had a service shifter on my cluster twice and my shop foreman couldn’t duplicate it. They replaced the shifter bezel which I thought had a switch of some sort in it, turns out it just is the light bezel for the shifter. They’ve had issues with them in the past for other vehicles so he wanted to start there. I haven’t had issues since though.

Awesome thank you! Good information! Mine has been pretty good, haven't honestly seen this happen on my truck since I posted this thread. Ill take it as a win. Im thinking the shifters are just Fineky and if you dont have it perfectly in the gear you want it will want to be reset (put in park) .

 

[daniellelaven022]

Awesome thank you! Good information! Mine has been pretty good, haven't honestly seen this happen on my truck since I posted this thread. Ill take it as a win. Im thinking the shifters are just Fineky and if you dont have it perfectly in the gear you want it will want to be reset (put in park) .

I agree! I’m sure some people are also starting the truck and slamming it into gear too, not giving everything a chance to wake up and register. Everything has been great on my truck (knock on wood) Still need to take mobbing in the desert, but I’ll get there! lol

 

[emmeer]

I agree! I’m sure some people are also starting the truck and slamming it into gear too, not giving everything a chance to wake up and register. Everything has been great on my truck (knock on wood) Still need to take mobbing in the desert, but I’ll get there! lol

I got the service shifter for the second time today. Truck wouldn't start and was giving me the service shifter message. I gave it about a 10 minute break and it started right up. Immediately took it to dealership for service. Had to order a shifter module, which is currently on back order. I hope it doesn't happen again before I can get it replaced.

 

[cconnorhtx]

I got the service shifter for the second time today. Truck wouldn't start and was giving me the service shifter message. I gave it about a 10 minute break and it started right up. Immediately took it to dealership for service. Had to order a shifter module, which is currently on back order. I hope it doesn't happen again before I can get it replaced.

Just curious - did your auto stop/start kick in or trigger it when this happened?

I know most of us turn it off immediately when we get in (or buy the amazing Auto Stop/Start Eliminator) but the one time I had this happen to me was also at a light, in traffic and boom - shift to P then select a gear

Only happened that one time for me and it was due to not turning ASS (ha) off

 

[emmeer]

No, I had parked and went into a store. Came back out and it wouldn't start. Service advisor said they are seeing this issue on other vehicles and are replacing the shifter module (back order). The truck basically couldn't recognize it was in park and wouldn't start.

 

[cconnorhtx]

No, I had parked and went into a store. Came back out and it wouldn't start. Service advisor said they are seeing this issue on other vehicles and are replacing the shifter module (back order). The truck basically couldn't recognize it was in park and wouldn't start.

Okay thanks. Crazy and I hope it never happens again

 

[daniellelaven022]

No, I had parked and went into a store. Came back out and it wouldn't start. Service advisor said they are seeing this issue on other vehicles and are replacing the shifter module (back order). The truck basically couldn't recognize it was in park and wouldn't start.

Did they give you any type of eta on when the part will arrive? @cconnorhtx First thing I do when I get in the truck is turn that off, did you buy that auto stop start eliminator? I don’t mind just hitting the button but I haven’t done much research on getting rid of it though. Never liked the feature especially living in the desert, I feel like too much wear and tear, and the ac blows like crap when the engine stops, and I am not about that life! Heat advisories out by me it was about 112 today . @emmeer I Hope they try to expedite the part once it’s available!!!