I've got an '07 4dr Rubicon with automatic tranny. The gear selector started not wanting to work a couple weeks back, i.e. was difficult to go from reverse to park positions. Tonight it jammed in 'park' on the selector itself; however, it showed 'reverse' on the cluster. It would not, will not move at the gear selector. It also won't start because it's actually still in gear...

I was out of town and had to crawl under and move it by hand while the e-brake was engaged to keep it from running over me. It was obviously jammed at or near the point of where the shifter is hooked to the cable, probably on the inside of the cab instead of under the vehicle.

Several questions:

has anyone else had this happen?

will the dealer disassemble the selector from inside the cab and replace whatever needs replacing with new parts under warranty?

is there anything else that will need to be fixed at the same time (associated damage)?

Do I need to plan on bringing alternate transportation with me when I take it to the dealer because they will likely keep it several days?


You know, I love my Jeep and don't plan to ever trade her in, but you would think that at just 15,000 miles she wouldn't be having issues like this. Frankly, I baby her most of the time. When all of this took place my 80 year old mother was driving it for a few weeks while her car's in the shop. I know she wasn't driving it 'like she stole it'....

I did the search thing but couldn't find anything similar. If any of you know of another thread pertaining to this, please answer with the link. Thanks! HBC

 

take it to the dealer and let them work it out, i would plan on leaving it there for a few days. get it fixed under warranty

 

i think its in the manual that lil slot next to the O/D u can take a screwdriver and use that to go from gears or somethin not sure never had this problem

 

Anyone else?

 

Safty first.Always have help when moving the shiter under car. helper inside with parking brake applied and foot on brake pedal. NEVER TRUST the parking brake to hold the car. while Your under it by Yourself.
Bring it to the dealer for diag. The tech will check the cable to see if its streched , disconect at trans and see if linkage moves free. Move shifter inside
to eliminate the area of problem.
most of the time the linkage is loose at valvebody, cable dislocates from bracket,something easy seen.
You will have to leave it for day I would think
Good luck

 

The shifter has an electric lockout solenoid that's activated by the brake pedal. When the brake pedal is depressed, the solenoid is activated and allows the shifter to be moved out of park. If the switch at the pedal is bad, or out of adjustment, or the solenoid is bad, this would certainly cause your condition. As silverGstoneJK said, there is a small circular plug in the upper left side of the console, just to the left front of the shifter. Remove this, get a small long flat blade screwdriver and insert it straight down until you feel some spring tension. Hold it down, and you should be able to move the shifter into park if it is out, or out of park if it is in. Of course, you'll want the parking brake applied when doing this. You will then be able to drive it to the dealer. You'll have to use the screwdriver trick each time you move to or from park until the dealer repairs it....IF one of the above conditions is what the problem is. Sure sounds like it, though.

 

That would take a lot of help and lift.

 

I've replaced shifter knob and cable assemblies on all brands of vehicles from new Jags to Passats to new domestics, they all operate basically the same and have basically the same problems. Your jeep shifter could have been jerked on by someone not familiar with the brake/park interlock before you purchased it. With most of the internal interlock button parts made from plastic you can see how easy it is to strip a part internally and cause the same to fail prematurally (WHAT A LINE- HA ). Never move your shifter without fully and completely depressing your thumb button . Instruct anyone else using your vehicle about this and you should have good luck !!

 

On edit, the access plug for the shifter is not circular and to the left front of the shifter. It is a small rectangle and to the top right of the shifter. Sorry about that. Too damn many years at the Toyota service department.