Im really trying to be self-reliant here...but now I'm baffled. My car was occasionally sticking in park, and occasionally not letting me remove the ignition key. I suspected somthing like a brake switch, so I got myself moblle to get home by jiggling the plunger of the brake switch....so I figured that a worn switch was my problem. I studied all the videos about how to replace it without breaking the switch in the process ( I would imagine lots of people do this) and carefully replaced it, and the result is that now my key goes in and out of the ignition easily but the shifter is still stuck in park.
Shouldnt that have fixed both problems? Is there a fuse somewhere"
I did notice a hairline crack that developed through all this in the shifter button, but it feels like its still engaging., I still feel spring tension as normal
I can also hear and feel somehting in the console that moves when I step on the brake with the ignition on

 

The click in the shifter with brake applied is the brake light switch telling the shift release solenoid to release. Good so far

One thing that can happen is the shift **** gets pulled slightly up - and then won't come out of park. Make sure the shift **** is pushed down all the way - simply whap it with your hand.