GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

NORMAL Inhibits Which Result in a Blinking PRNDL

    • High Engine Speed Neutral to Range Shifts
        When a Neutral to Drive or Neutral to Reverse shift is made when engine rpm is too high, the shift will be inhibited to neutral. The TCM has torque management capability and will attempt to slow the engine to a point where it will make the requested shift.
    • High Throttle or Torque Direction Change Shifts
        Reverse to Drive, Drive to Reverse, Neutral to Drive, and Neutral to Reverse shifts where throttle position is greater then 25 percent will be inhibited to neutral. The TCM has torque management capability, and will attempt to slow the engine to a point where it will make the requested shift.
    • Four-Wheel-Drive Transfer Case in Neutral
        If the four-wheel-drive transfer case is shifted into neutral while the transmission is in Drive or Reverse, the transmission will continue to command range until output speed is low, at which point neutral is commanded.
        If the driver attempts to shift the transmission from Neutral to Drive or Neutral to Reverse with the transfer case in neutral, the PRNDL display will blink immediately.
    • High Output Speed Direction Change Shifts
        Reverse to Drive, Drive to Reverse, and Neutral to Reverse shifts initiated above 300 RPM output speed will be inhibited to neutral.
    • Low ATF Level
        Insufficient transmission fluid and lack of initial pump prime caused by refilling the transmission.
    • Extremely low ATF temperature
        A shift out of Neutral when ATF temperature is below -45°C (-49°F) may be inhibited.

MALFUNCTIONS Which May Cause a Blinking PRNDL

    • Failure to detect turbine speed "pull-down" during a shift.
        This may occur, for example, when a clutch is failed and the transmission cannot attain the requested range.
    • Invalid gear ratio
    • Misadjusted PNP switch or selector linkage
    • A/B solenoid failure
    • Turbine or output speed sensor failure
    • Lack of pressure at startup

Conditions Which May Cause a BLANK PRNDL

The PRNDL display may be blank due to failure of PNP switch circuits A, B, C, or P, or when the PNP switch is out of adjustment or damaged.

The transmission will command the most appropriate range based on reverse pressure switch and the remaining PNP switch inputs.