Any one have any clues as to where to start looking to fix this problem? dont want to take it to the stealer ship.

Pop off the plastic on the bottom of your steering column. Look for pair of wires that are orange and white coming from the shifter. Follow them to a little black box. Generally they are broke there. It may not look like it, but the are usually broke on the inside of the insulation.

Thanks J. I will try that when I have a chance.

You can try to find the break and solder the wire but chances are that it'll break elsewhere. Wires are very thin.

Unfortunately, only permanent fix is a new shifter which set me back a couple of hundred bucks.

Some have mentioned they re-routed the new wires slightly to minimize the kink.

Do a search on tow/haul for more details.

Unfortunately, only permanent fix is a new shifter which set me back a couple of hundred bucks.

Hell, the lever only lists for $105.

Found the shift lever on GM parts Direct for $69 plus shipping

got it ordered through an account with local dealership for 40

Anybody know how the column trim comes ofF an '01??

I have the GM service manual, and under shifter replacement, it simply states to remove two Torx screws that hold on the lower steering column trim piece and change the shifter. Now, if you look up trim replacement, it tells you to pull the airbag, pull the steering wheel, pull the tilt lever, and the remove two PAN head screws that hold on the lower trim.

Looking at it, there are what appear to be access hols for screws in the bootom of the lower trim, but there are no screws in them, Torx, pan head or otherwise. It does look like the tilt lever needs to come off to allow the lower trim piece to drop off.

Anybody know how to change this thing?