Have you ever heard stories about shifters that become stuck and refuse to budge no matter how much the drivers pushed and pulled them? Knowing why the shifter is stuck in Park gear can help you avoid the problem and fix the issue if it happens in your car.
The following are the most common reasons behind the shifter stuck in Park gear:
Not every parking spot is on level ground. Sometimes, you can only park your car on an inclined surface. Unfortunately, parking an automatic vehicle on an incline might lead to the shifter stuck in Park mode.
If you park your automatic car on an incline, the vehicle’s weight might settle on the parking pawl, the metal pin that stops the output shaft and drive wheels from turning when engaged. The incline’s direction and the parked car’s position can put enough pressure on the parking pawl to lock the pin in the engaged position.
You’ll struggle to move the shifter out of the Park gear if the parking pawl is still engaged. In the worst-case scenario, the gear shifter becomes stuck in P.
The shift interlock solenoid helps the parking pawl keep your automatic car parked. It keeps the shifter in Park gear, preventing shifting that might lead to accidents.
You can usually turn off the shift interlock solenoid by pushing the brake pedal to the floor. Only then can you shift out of parking gear.
Failing to push the brake pedal down and forgetting to press the pedal will keep the shift interlock solenoid engaged. Alternatively, the brake pedal might also have a problem that prevents it from going down to the floor, preventing you from turning off the shift interlock.
Like any other car part, the shift interlock solenoid could wear out and eventually fail. A damaged or worn-out solenoid might keep the shifter locked until the brake lights turn on.
While the shift solenoid is fine, it might not unlock the shifter when you press the brake pedal down. The problem might lie with the brake light switch.
The brake light switch controls the brake lights. Stepping on the brake pedal turns on the switch, which transmits the activation signal to the lights.
It so happens that the shift interlock solenoid looks for the signal from the brake light switch. If the solenoid detects the signal, it decides the brakes are engaged. The shift interlock solenoid then unlocks the shifter.
If a problem appears on the brake light switch, the part might not send the signal to the brake lights. The shift interlock solenoid will keep the gear selector stuck in Park mode.
The first step in unlocking the shifter from Park gear is identifying what caused the problem. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can take the appropriate steps to fix it.
Here are tips on what to do when the gear selector gets stuck in Park mode:
Is the gear selector stuck in Park because you left your car parked on an incline with the parking brake engaged? It’s possible to free the shifter by shaking your vehicle.
This approach calls for at least two people. If you’re alone, contact someone you trust to help you or call for a tow. One of you must stay in the car and press the brake pedal. The other person should gently rock the car from outside.
The rocking motion shifts how the vehicle’s weight gets distributed. It might reduce the stress on the parking pawl, allowing the pin to move.
While the vehicle shakes, the car’s occupant should work the shifter until it disengages from the Parking gear.
Modern cars usually have a safety feature that manually overrides the shift interlock. Engaging the interlock override lets you bypass the erratic shift interlock solenoid and unlock the shifter.
You’ll need a flathead screwdriver.
Check your owner’s manual to determine if your car has an interlock override. The manual can also show you where to find the feature.
A plastic cap covers the interlock override slot. Remove the cap and insert the screwdriver. Push and hold the screwdriver down. Simultaneously, step on the brake pedal and push it down. The shifter should now unlock.
Do the brake lights stay dark when you step on the brake pedal? A bad brake light switch is probably the reason. Fortunately, you can easily replace
Before you replace the brake light switch, disconnect the battery. You don’t want a short circuit damaging wiring and electronics.
Most brake light switches are located on the top of or beside the brake pedal lever or under the dashboard. Detach the switch from the wiring harness, remove the bad part, and install a replacement.
After installing the new brake light switch, test it by pressing the pedal and seeing if the light turns on. If the brake lights illuminate, attempt to shift out of Park gear. Otherwise, you might have to reinstall the switch or look for other issues.
Having a gear selector stuck in Park might indicate other issues with the transmission. Contact trusted mechanics and schedule a transmission service as early as possible.
Here are some good habits that can prevent the shifter from getting stuck in park:
Before you shift the gear selector to Park, always engage the parking brake first. The brakes take tension away from the parking pawl, ensuring the pin can still move.
Press the brake pedal down before moving the shifter out of Park and into a new gear.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.