Q: Car won’t shift out of park

asked by on December 31, 2017

A few days ago I went and bought a Bluetooth radio transmitter so I could listen to music through my phone. These transmitters work through the cigarette lighter which I then remembered wasn’t working. I go to check the fuse to see if it’s blown but it seemed fine. I also pulled other fuses out, out of curiosity to check the status on them. To my recollection I put everything back in their correct spot. The next morning I go to start my car and take it to work and to my surprise see that the shifter won’t shift into reverse. It’s stuck in park and won’t come out. I popped open my hood and manually shifted it into reverse to see if it was able to move and it did. I can also manually shift it into neutral and drive. I hooked a diagnostics machine up to my car and it said about losing connection to the TCM. Is the tcm the problem or does it have something to do with what I did with the fuses the night before since it was operating perfectly until then. Thanks In advance

My car has 110000 miles.

You will need to make sure you put all the fuses back in the correct places since the fuse will power the shift interlock. Fuses number 2 and 14 control the shift interlock. Make sure fuses are in place and then try it again. If you still have issues then you will need further assistance by a mechanic like one from YourMechanic.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Something broke underneath my car.
Hello, without hearing the noise its hard to make a recommendation. If you hear a rattle sound it could be a loose bracket or loose bolt. If you are experiencing a clunking sound, you might have something loose in the...
Problem with battery.
The corrosion problem is due to the battery acid leaking onto the cables and causing the failures. The alternator may be overcharging the battery or it could be the battery temperature sensor causing the battery to be overcharged. The recommendation...
How do I use an iPod with the infotainment system?
You can play an iPod through the infotainment system by connecting it via an AUX cable or a USB cable. Both the AUX and the USB cables connect to the ports in the center console. While an AUX cable will...
Check Engine light on; transmission leak
The coolant temperature sensor is likely what caused your Check Engine light. Sometimes aftermarket manufacturers produce parts of a lesser quality than the OEM. However, this does not mean that all aftermarket manufacturers produce faulty parts. It is harder to...
My batery light turns off and on and also dims and brightens what do i do to fix
Hello, thank you for writing in. The battery light may illuminate for several different reasons. Luckily any codes may be pulled from the computer and save time with diagnosis. Typically the light will come on and stay on when the...
Heater air is blowing out cold on the passenger side of the vehicle when the heater is on, warm on driver side 2011 Dodge Journey
Hello - your "no heat" problem (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/no-heat-on-passenger-side-by-andy-k) sounds like an ambient air temperature sensor on the passenger side with problems, or a malfunctioning air blend door inside the heater air box. I would recommend a heater inspection (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection) by a...
Can you give us some tips for buying a used car?
Hi Rohit. Thanks for contacting us today. You might find this article to be very helpful (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-buying-a-new-or-a-used-vehicle). Buying a previously owned vehicle is much easier when you have a professional mechanic complete a pre-purchase car inspection (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/pre-purchase-car-inspection) as well.
When i reverse out of my driveway then shift into drive sometimes it doesnt shift into drive
Have the shift cable checked to see if it has worn cable ends and check to see if the fluid is low. If you check both of these and they are okay then you will need to have a mechanic...
i have a 08 f150 super crew with the 5.4 v8.... when in overdrive... i step on the gas to accelerate and the engine seems to "miss
It is very possible that the electronic portion of your overdrive system is failing. I would recommend having your overdrive system inspected by a qualified professional who is proficient in diagnosing transmission issues such as this.

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Volkswagen Passat
Redesigned Redesigned for American buyers, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is roomier, has more standard features, and costs less than previous models. All that, and you still get everything you look for in a German-built sedan, including the on-road dynamics, power,...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Need a Lot of Trunk Space
Many Many people focus more on interior room than cargo carrying capacity. That’s natural if you have a large family or regularly carpool, but what about drivers who need to carry a lot of stuff most of the time and...
How to Prevent Having Your Car Stolen
Protecting Protecting your vehicle from auto thieves can save you the hassle of trying to recover a stolen car or from having to buy another to replace it. You can choose from many options to protect your vehicle, including using...