How to unlock the P gear setting for Buick GL8?
2 Answers
It is not enough to start the vehicle, but you can turn on the ignition switch to power up the entire vehicle. Under such circumstances, for most vehicles, simply powering on can release the P gear. If turning on the ignition switch does not produce any response, most vehicles are equipped with an emergency P gear release switch and onboard tools. You can refer to the maintenance manual to manually release the P gear.
Having driven the GL8 for many years, the P-gear unlocking issue is actually quite common. Sometimes after turning off the engine, the gear gets stuck in P and the key can't be removed. Don't panic in this situation. First, check if the brake pedal is fully depressed, because the gear lock mechanism won't release without braking. If the brake is pressed and it still doesn't work, try restarting the engine, then press the brake, shift to N gear and then back to P gear. Also, check if the key battery is dead - try placing the key close to the start button. Another small detail: steering wheel lock can also affect this - gently turning the steering wheel while pulling out the key might help. If it still won't unlock, don't force it - call the 4S shop to ask about emergency unlocking methods. Many newer GL8 models have a hidden small hole near the gear lever for forced unlocking.
