Gear shifter gets stuck in park

MOPARLVR340

MEMBER
2005 CHRYSLER 300
3.5L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
153,000 MILES

The gear shifter in the center console stays locked in the park position. I have to fight it and beat on the console to get it to move out of park. Car manual states that you are suppose to press firmly on the brake pedal before moving the gear shifter out of park. What's going on? Can you help without seeing the car?

7 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.

The vehicle has a park interlock system. I will try my best to help.

The interlock solenoid is to release the shifter when you apply the brakes. What happens is this. When you press the brakes, the brake light switch turns the brake lights on and at the same time, powers the interlock solenoid to release the shifter. First, check and confirm the brake lights are working for me.

Next, if the brake lights work, we will need to check to see if power is going to the shift lock interlock solenoid. Let me know if they work,

In the event you can't get it to shift out of park, there is a manual override. Here are the directions and the attached picture shows where the override is located:

____________________

BTSI Override
In the event of an electrical failure, the vehicle can be shifted out of PARK by using the following procedure.
1. Turn the key to the ACC or ON position.
2. Remove the liner to the cubby bin to the right side of the shifter.
3. Depress the BTSI override (2) on the side of the shifter assembly (1).
4. While the override is depressed, move the shifter out of the PARK position.
5. Return the cubby bin liner to its original location.

I will watch for your reply.

Joe

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Wednesday, December 26th, 2018 AT 6:59 PM

MOPARLVR340

MEMBER
9 POSTS

I removed the cubby hole to the right of the console, and only found a little hole on the bottom that was only about a inch long and seen a pink piece of paper laying down flat. I touched it, and it moved somewhere else where you could no longer see it. Anyway, since that pink piece of paper moved, the shifter seems to be working for now. So far! I did not see the part you showed on your original reply. Nor, would I of been able to get to it, unless I removed the whole console. Maybe you gave me information on a different year (300) Thanks for trying. I'll ask you guys again if I run into other problems if I can't determine the cause. Thanks.

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Tuesday, January 1st, 2019 AT 5:54 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Hi and welcome back:
I double checked my source for the pic to make sure I didn't make a mistake, and it's the same picture. Then, I checked a different manual and it does look different. Both are listed for a 2005 Chrysler 300 with the 3.5. I apologize if it caused confusion. I attached the other picture here. Let me know if this is what you have.

Joe

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Tuesday, January 1st, 2019 AT 8:52 PM

MOPARLVR340

MEMBER
9 POSTS

I don't know which transmission is in there without taking the whole console out. I did finally find in the owners manual is that in case of a electrical system malfunction there is an override for the interlock system. To fix the problem is to press down on that pink tab in the small hole under the cubby hole without having to depress the brake in the on position before starting and then move the shifter out of park. Anyway I did press on that pink tab and then it disappeared, but all seems to work well now. I have noticed though that since I pressed down on that pink tab, and if I depress the brake in the on position before starting the brake light comes on for a few seconds then goes out before I start it up.

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Sunday, January 6th, 2019 AT 3:58 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS