Dear mgadohc,

Hope you're well. Depressing the brake pedal is required to move the shift lever out of "Park".

If "shift lock button" refers to the rectangular button at the bottom edge of the shifter housing, that should ordinarily not need to be touched.

The symptoms you report suggest failure of the neutral safety microswitch (#9466030), which is mounted in the shifter assembly.

See: https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/TransmissionAuto.htm#TransmissionNotShiftingOutofPark .

I believe that this switch can be replaced by a Radio Shack item, #275-016, which is a single-pole, double-throw micro-switch.

When removing the metal toothed washers, that secure the switch, great care must be taken to avoid breaking the thin plastic posts, on which the switch is mounted.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook