HELP! Car wont shift out of park?

[moosestang]

To all that have been down this road before me and posted the way to remedy the problem>>>>>>>>>THANK YOU!!!!!!!! Ended up filing the PINK THINGY (POS) smooth, drilled a small hole and used the cotter pin method to fix the problem. Works like a champ!!! Thanks again!!! One thing though, make sure you get the key lock cable back in it's proper position, found out the hard way.

Can someone explain this better? I can't get my key out now, not sure what isn't in the proper position. I put everything back the way it was. Is the shifter cable wrong somehow or is the wire cable that pulls on the pinky thing wrong? Help!

[moosestang]

Can someone explain this better? I can't get my key out now, not sure what isn't in the proper position. I put everything back the way it was. Is the shifter cable wrong somehow or is the wire cable that pulls on the pinky thing wrong? Help!

Nevermind! Cable was to tight, because I had the pinky thingy on the wrong side of the shifter tab, which also made it impossible to get out of park!

[ronaldrwl]

Here's my contribution. I added a small screw to hold the spring. And for you rookie mechanics, this took me 5 hours to figure out. Mostly how to take the center console out. Figuring out all the different ways the power connectors work is a PITA.

[Riversofbelief]

These pictures were absolutely spot on. Here's a bit more diagnostic for those reading.

If you have the engine running, push on the break pedal, and can feel that the shifter can now move 1/2 inch to the right freely, then the electronic lockout is working. When you remove the rubber liner and expose the hole on the right side of the shifter (still in the console), and press the pink part there, that release is ONLY to release the electronic lockout. The other pink release that breaks is deep inside the front of the shifter and can't be overridden without disassembling everything.

If the shifter gets to move to the right but won't go down to Reverse, there is a good chance the little pink spring hook is broken. Mine looked exactly like the ones in the photos! You can't imagine how inadequate that part is! I drilled the hole and used steel wire to make a new capture for the spring, just as shown, and it worked out great.

One note: you might have to play with the pieces a bit when you try to return the pink part to the shifter to ensure all mechanisms work correctly before attempting to reinstall into the car! Also, before you take the shift cable off, use a sharpie to mark the position for easier reassembly.

Process performed on a 2007 Dodge Charger 5.7L R/T

Tim

[Riversofbelief]

The black cable you remove from the shifter to get it out... it has a long hole. The place you set it "dials in" the proper location for the key to shifter relationship. You need to get access to the black cable and nut, adjust the position of the cable end under the nut until the key and shifter work properly.

[briankmizell]

Took me about ten minutes to take apart, and 3 hrs to put back together.

My main trouble is (I dont see well, and I have nerve damage in my hand)
The major PITA for me was that I had to keep taking it apart and putting the shifter back together again. I would either go into park and get stuck there, or it would go through all the gears but wouldn't go into park.

I dont have a picture but what I did was drill a tiny hole where the screw is in the pic below, I filed off the tad bit of plastic that was left of the old hook where the spring had previously attached. Then I drilled another hole the same size where the tab used to be. I got a new spring (cause the original went to the car gods, it fell down between the carpet and the floor under the seat) I put the spring through the two holes.

Dodge shifter lock out.jpg

I dont anticipate having future problems with it, but if I do, I will prolly purchase this:
1028-2.jpg

You can purchase it here, Park Lock Out, Pink Thing Replacement, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Chrysler 300, 2005, 2006, 2007, Stuck in park, Wont shift

At the time of this post, it cost $29.99

[btate]

Just want to say thanks for publishing the problem, solution and pics...i had the same problem occur yesterday evening and my dad was able to use yall's solution to 'temorarily' fix my problem. I can now shift from park. Woohhhooo!!!!!

[btate]

Just want to say thanks for publishing the problem, solution and pics...i had the same problem occur yesterday evening and my dad was able to use yall's solution to 'temorarily' fix my problem. I can now shift from park. Woohhhooo!!!!!

[juggernaut76]

I just registered to say thanks for this post. This afternoon I stopped to get gas and when I went to drive away I couldn't shift out of park.

I grabbed my phone, Googled the problem, found this forum post and the solution, removed the plastic cover surrounding the shift, pushed the stupid pink button thingy, and was on my way.

Took my car home, disassembled according to the pictures, fixed the problem with a small wire, remounted the spring, reassembled the shifter and voila! works like a charm.

Thanks again to the OP for this post and for the many responses!

[karfreek]

Good to hear! Seeing how the board saved ya a potential $150 towing bill, maybe you can swing the board $25 and get a cool banner under ya name?

You will learn tons more, trust me!


Jay

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[HEMIMADDNESS]

awesome write up this post saved my ass this morning thank you