I HAVE A 2000 DENALI AND IT IS (EXTREMELY) HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK; IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSM?

Question

When I say extremely hard I have been stuck in one place for as long as 20 mins trying to get it in gear and injured my arm in the process.

Answer 1

If you were parked on a incline / slope / hill the problem is the weight of the car binding on the park pawl in the transmission. To prevent this, either apply the parking brake and make sure it is holding the car before putting the transmission in park when parking on a hill, or park with a wheel against the curb to prevent the car from moving before placing in park (this tends to be hard on the alignment!).

Warning!  If the parking brake has never been used in 8 years it would be recommended that it be serviced and lubricated before trying this - it might apply and then refuse to release!

If the problem occurs when you are parked on a level surface then the problem is in the linkage between the shifter control and the transmission, rusted / damaged / bent or the like.

I assume that you are applying the service brake which releases the interlock before attempting to move the shift leaver out of "Park". but it is possible the interlock itself is not working correctly.