How to Unlock a Stuck Automatic Transmission P Gear?
2 Answers
Specific steps are as follows: 1. Release the brake pedal, press it again, and then try to shift gears. 2. Slightly turn the steering wheel and then try to shift gears. 3. Restart the engine, press the brake once more, and then try to shift gears. 4. Open the hood, disconnect the battery, and then reconnect it. Restart the engine, press the brake once more, and then try to shift gears. Reasons for P gear lock: 1. When parking, the P gear was engaged before the car came to a complete stop. 2. When the vehicle is parked on a slope, the P gear is engaged first, and then the pedal is released. At this time, the vehicle will slide slightly forward due to its own weight, automatically eliminating the gap of the P gear lock teeth. Both of the above situations can cause the gear lever to get stuck, making it impossible to shift to other gears. In addition, damaged brake light switch, damaged gear shift mechanism, and damaged transmission control unit are common causes of automatic transmission P gear lock.
I recently encountered the issue of the P gear getting stuck, and it really stressed me out when I was in a hurry to leave. I tried pressing the brake pedal again and noticed the brake lights didn't come on, so I figured the brake switch might be faulty. Then I inserted the key and tried turning the steering wheel left and right, but it was still stuck. As a last resort, I got down next to the gear lever, found the small cover, pried it open with the key, and pressed the emergency button inside. With a click, the gear lever became movable again. Later, the mechanic told me that when parking, I shouldn't shift directly into P gear. Instead, I should first engage the handbrake to let the car come to a complete stop before shifting to avoid getting stuck. If it does get stuck, don't force the gear lever, as you could damage the transmission gears, which would be a huge loss. He also suggested keeping a screwdriver in the center console—it really comes in handy in emergencies.
