Best Prices for Car does not shift from park to drive Inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(451)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(451)


Car does not shift from park to drive Inspection Service

You start the car up, put your foot the brake, push the button on the shifter and it won’t shift out of park. What do you do now? Don’t force the shifter. Forcing the shifter out of park may cause more damage. The shifter is connected to the transmission in some cars mechanically or electronically. If an electrical or mechanical component has failed between the shifter and transmission, you won’t be able to shift the car out of park. A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to diagnose the problem with your vehicle. The mechanic will then provide an inspection report detailing the scope and cost of the necessary repairs

When to have your shifter inspected or replaced:

Have this system inspected only when a part in the shifter or part of the system that operates the transmission breaks] . There is no scheduled time frame for replacing parts in the shifting system. However, all parts can wear out and have the potential to fail, and in a perfect situation, all the parts in the shifting system would last the life of the vehicle.

Symptoms that may indicate your shifter will fail include:

  • Shifter can be moved but has a lot of resistance
  • When shifting into a gear, drive or reverse, it feels difficult to find the right spot. The transmission ends up in neutral instead. You may notice that the engine will accelerate when stepping on the gas pedal but the car doesn’t move.
  • When starting the car with the key, the ignition cylinder feels loose and has play.
  • No brake lights in the vehicle, brake pedal switch could be faulty.
  • Shifter feels completely loose -- like it’s not connected to the transmission at all.

How a mechanic will inspect a car that won’t shift from park:

There are a number of reasons why a car will not move from park to drive. They can range from the shifter being locked to a broken shifter cable. Mechanics will check for these things:

  • Failed brake light switch

  • Bad shift interlock solenoid or wiring: The shift interlock solenoid is a safety feature that has been added to all modern automatic-transmission cars. It prevents the driver from shifting out of park without a foot on the brake.

  • Broken transmission shift cable: A cable connects the shifter handle to the transmission, and if that is broken, the shifter will be inoperable

  • Ignition key tumbler is worn out: The ignition switch not only starts your car, but it also locks the steering wheel when the key is taken out. In cars with automatic transmissions, a shift interlock solenoid is also part of the ignition system, and it locks the transmission so it cannot be shifted out of park (as described above).

  • Broken shifter mechanism: It is also possible that the shifter itself is broken. A mechanic will remove the center console to examine the actual shifter mechanism.

Is it safe to drive with this problem?

Since you can’t move the car without shifting from park to drive, it’s important to enlist the help of one of our mechanics as soon as possible to inspect and then repair the issue.


Recent Car does not shift from park to drive Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(451)

Rating Summary
409
20
3
5
14
409
20
3
5
14

Michael

28 years of experience
672 reviews
Michael
28 years of experience
Buick Rendezvous V6-3.6L - Car does not shift from park to drive - San Tan Valley, Arizona
Michael was friendly, helped to identify the problem with our car quickly, and suggested the most cost-effective solutions available to us in that same meeting. I was very impressed!

Sivi

18 years of experience
21 reviews
Sivi
18 years of experience
Fiat 500L L4-1.4L Turbo - Car does not shift from park to drive - Fort Worth, Texas
Sivi did an excellent job, he did not stop until the problem was resolved. He was friendly as well as very professional and did a great job analyzing the problem.

Luis

16 years of experience
244 reviews
Luis
16 years of experience
Lexus RX300 V6-3.0L - Car does not shift from park to drive - Indian Springs, Nevada
We thank you for sending us Luis. He did a great job and made sure that all possible problems were checked. Fixed the problem and suggested that we get the shift unit replaced, we are, by Luis next visit. Great Job. Thank You

Stephen

15 years of experience
19 reviews
Stephen
15 years of experience
Hyundai Accent L4-1.6L - Car does not shift from park to drive - Dallas, Texas
Stephen was amazing! He explained everything going on during my appointment and showed me what he found wrong right away. He made sure I knew what he was doing each step and was pleasant to talk with. I would totally recommend Stephen to anyone who wants fast and kind service with someone who knows what they're doing.

Recent articles & questions

Are Wider Tires Better?
The The size and width of the tires on your vehicle determines how your vehicle will handle in different conditions. There are several factors that go into the decision of which tires to equip your vehicle with (https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/company/partner/yourmechanic?promoCode=YOURMECHANIC&utm_source=null&utm_medium=referral&partnerId=yourmechanic&partnerName=yourmechanic&retaggingLaunchUrl=%2F%2Fassets.adobedtm.com%2Flaunch-EN786b79de5697438cb1f8839bcd30487c.min.js&floodlightEnabled=true&liveChatEnabled=true&siteName=Goodyear+Tires), including: The...
How Much Does the AC Affect Fuel Mileage
Your car’s air conditioner is an important accessory – it helps keep you and your passengers comfortable and...
How to Get the Best Rental Car for the Lowest Price
When you need to rent a car (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-rent-a-car-if-you-re-only-going-one-way-by-jason-unrau), you would like to get the best value for money. The least expensive car on the car rental agency’s lot usually has the fewest features and may not be the most comfortable...

Buttery light on the dashboard

Hello. If the battery light is on then that usually means that there is a charging system issue. It is typically caused by a bad alternator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/alternator-replacement), but it can also be due to bad connections or an electrical failure...

Aftermarket AC install 2017 Jeep Renegade Sport

Hi Adam. Thanks for contacting us today. Unfortunately, YourMechanic.com is unable to complete aftermarket component service or installation. We only complete OEM repairs and maintenance.

MY car is shaking and my epc light is on I own a 2008 vw Passat 2.0t

Hi Tristin. Thanks for contacting us tonight. he EPC stands for Electronic Power Control. When this light is activated, it usually indicates a rather serious fuel or ignition system fault. However, with the vehicle vibrating, it could indicate a vacuum...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

+1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com