Column Shift Assembly

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 8 other vehicles, including the 2011 GMC Yukon XL, 2011 GMC Yukon, 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2011 Chevrolet Suburban, and 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

If the vehicle is equipped with a column mounted gear shift, it has a linear shift assembly on the steering column. The linear shift assembly has a cable that runs from the linear shift assembly to the ignition lock cylinder case. The purpose of this cable is to prevent the ignition key from being turned to the OFF position when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle may still be moving. The linear shift assembly cable contains a pin that is spring loaded to mechanically prevent the ignition key cylinder from being turned to the lock position when the vehicle transmission is not in the PARK position. If vehicle power is lost, and/or the transmission is not in the PARK position the operator will not be able to turn the ignition key to the lock position and will not be able to remove the ignition key from the column.