The car will be towed from the hardware store to my house as it wont shift out of park. push break, no release click so it wont shift. any ideas on the fix or to get it to let me drive home/to the shop would be helpful.

thanks,
Supraman

 

If you look in the owners manual it explains how to remove the cover over the shifter and release the lock - you use that strange looking hole on the cover.

The brake switch can fail -- are the brake lights working.

 

Try an Electronic Spray or Can of Air Spray to Clean the Switch activated by the brake Switch. It may need a slight adjustment as well.

Worked for me.

Good Luck.

 

The stick is locked in park by an electromagnet. This is engaged to allow movement by foot on brake and physical movement of a microswitch in the shifter housing. These micro switched have been known to fail to open, either sticky or adjustment. Also blown fuse can stop it and I believe that there has been a reported linkage between the taillight wiring shorting in the trunk affecting the circuit associated to the park circuit.

Hope this helps.

(Manual over ride involves unscrewing the plastic 'torx' screw on the shifter and inserting a short rod to disengage the physical lock.

 

I need to buy a service book, these cars have too much going on without one to help lead the path. Thanks for the feedback and pointers. i did find the override and drive the car home. need to figure out next step, will try the air route first hoping that does the trick. If not, will look at the fuse route.
again, thanks for the feedback all, much appreciated.

 

Most commonly the brake switch

 

Supraman
I found this Techanical Service Bulletin (206-07) - A/T Selector Lever - Difficult to Shift From PARK

XJ TSB 206-07 Difficult Shift From Park.pdf

Maybe another possiblity???

Jim Lombardi

 

awesome, thanks so much Jim. The other items didn't do the job. thanks for the lead.