I was driving my car the other day, and pulled into a parking spot, expecting to run an errand and be on the road again in minutes. After three hours and one truck, my best laid plans of a productive afternoon were canceled.
Driving is a natural process for most people. Lock the doors. Start the engine. Move the shifter to reverse. Drive out of your parking spot. Drive off. Then, we repeat the same actions until we reach the garage.
But what I experienced isn’t all that uncommon. Sometimes you’ll find the car shifter stuck in park, and no matter how much you turn your wheel or play with the shifter, it simply won’t budge.
What can you do when your car shifter remains stuck in park
Don’t force the shifter into action
When your gear shifter is stuck, the first rule of thumb is not to force it into action. Doing so could cause more damage to your transmission.
There may be several factors at play. Some are more serious than others, so it’s important to evaluate the potential problems carefully. Begin by asking yourself some questions.
Is My car was parked on an inclines.
Your car will shift when you park it on an inclines. The parking pawl is a device that fits into the automatic transmission and locks it up. Sometimes this can lead to excessive pressure. It can become stuck and prevent the piece from retracting. You can sometimes free the car by pushing it a bit and allowing you to move on with your life. You can avoid this problem by applying the parking brake before letting your foot off the brake whenever you’re parked on an incline.
Are my brake lights working?
Interconnected are the brake switch and shift interlock mechanisms. If you find yourself stuck in Park, get someone to stand by your car and inspect your brake lights. Are they lit up? If they don’t, it could be that your brake switch is not working properly. This will cause the sensor to go out and make your parking connections unusable.
Is your car equipped with a manual shift interlock?
Some cars have what’s called a manual shift release, but it depends on which car you drive. You can check the area around your automatic shifter to find a plug or button. You can usually remove the cover with a key or small object. The button will allow you to shift into park. However, you should make sure that you apply brakes first before you begin rolling away. You should be aware that this may be temporary. It’s still a good idea to get your car thoroughly checked to ensure it’s in good working condition.
Car still won’t shift? What should you do?
If you’ve checked the above and still have a car that won’t shift, it might be time to call in a tow truck and bring it into our shop.
Other issues may also be involved that could be keeping your car’s shifter from moving into park.
Damaged safety mechanism
Every vehicle has a variety of safety mechanisms to keep you safe while around your car. A safety feature that prevents you from putting your car in park when you start it up is called a shift interlock solenoid. This is called a shift-interlock solenoid. Solenoids, which are made of metal cylinders, allow you to shift the gearshift easily. Each action you take on your vehicle triggers another. When you press down on the brake pedal, it signals the solenoid it’s okay to release the gearshift and allow you to move to your desired action. If this is damaged, you’ll be unable to get out of park. It is essential to replace it in order to move.
Brake light switch failure
This is different from your brake light burning out. Your gear shift will not stick if the switch that connects your brake lights and the braking action is damaged. A faulty switch is the culprit. You can get on the road again by replacing it.
Faulty shifter cable
If you’re driving an automatic, the transmission is fitted with a cable that links to the shifter. An automatic transmission has two cables, instead of one. These cables can break or be damaged depending on how you drive. Wear and tear can be caused by frequent speed shifting, hammering into gears, and a lot of slipping. A stretched cable won’t do the job effectively, and will eventually get stuck.
Limp mode
Sometimes your vehicle is unable to read the signals coming from the sensors. These sensors help your vehicle decide when to shift gears. The sensor that goes out will trigger what is called limp mode. This protection feature allows drivers to bring their car in for repairs before causing further damage to the transmission. You won’t be able to pick up speed, so highway driving is out. If you’re not near a shop, don’t try this.
It might also be caused by weather
Let’s face it, Colorado can have extreme weather conditions in days, or even hours. It can cause transmission problems if temperatures drop below freezing. If your car shifter is stuck in park due to a frozen solenoid, it could be caused by a frozen shift lock. Heating your car may be an option.
It’s time to let a mechanic get you back on the road
It’s easy to get upset, even angry when your car doesn’t work as designed. However, in most cases, trying and get your car to work again will only lead to more damage.
Try the techniques mentioned above carefully. If you can’t immediately put your finger on what the cause is, call in a tow truck and have one of our mechanics look for the cause.
You’ll save money in the long run by fixing the problem the right way without doing further damage to your car.
Is Is your car’s shifter stuck in neutral? We can help you get back on the road.
