Seatbelt on, start the car, shift into Reverse, and – still in Park? Whether you’re at home or trying to leave work, it’s frustrating and stressful when you feel stranded. If you find yourself in this situation, we have a few things for you to keep in mind and either avoid or try out to get your car moving again. And if all else fails, the mechanics at your local AAMCO are here to help get you safely to an auto repair shop.
First, a Few Things to Avoid
First things first, avoid doing a couple of things that could cause more problems for you and your car. The last thing you want to do when you already feel stranded is to make the problem worse. When your car is stuck in Park, it’s a sign there’s a problem with an essential part of your car, so it’s always a good idea to have it inspected sooner rather than later, even if you get your car moving again.
Don’t Try Too Hard to Force Your Gear Shift to Move
As much as your frustration may make you want to just try harder, it’s a bad idea to try and force your gear shift to move when it’s stuck. Doing so risks causing more damage to your transmission. Whichever part is stuck, your transmission is responsible for getting into and staying in gear, so when your car is having difficulty with any gear, it points to transmission trouble.
Don’t Freak Out
You’re stressed – your car isn’t working and you have places to be. You don’t want to deal with an expensive auto repair right now. While that is likely what’s running through your head if you’re in this situation, it’s important to step back, take a deep breath, and try to calm yourself down. Freaking out over your car being stuck in Park will only make matters worse because you’re more likely to do something you shouldn’t when you’re not thinking clearly.
A Few Possible Reasons Why Your Car is Stuck in Park
We’ve covered the bases on what not to do – now, what might your car’s problem be? There are a few common auto repairs that may be necessary to get your car shifting easily again. Some of these may come with tricks you can try to get things moving on your own, while others will need a mechanic’s touch. In any case, it’s best to get your car to a mechanic soon to have diagnostics run.
You Parked on an Incline without Engaging the Parking Brake
While it’s important anytime you park your car, it’s especially important when parking your car on an incline to remember to engage your parking brake. Without your parking brake engaged, it’s up to your transmission to hold your car in place, which understandably puts more pressure on it. Transmissions are as complex as they are essential, so you want to make it a priority to take care of your transmission, including proper driving (and parking) habits and keeping up with regular maintenance. If this is your problem, you may be able to get it moving again by giving your car a couple of good pushes to loosen it up. However, you should still have a mechanic take a look to ensure no damage or extra wear was caused.
Your Brake Switch May Have Come Unplugged or Failed
Check if your brake lights come on. If they do, you’ll have to check for other problems. If they don’t, it’s likely your brake switch has come unplugged. When this happens, you won’t be able to do anything with your brakes, meaning your brake lights won’t respond and if your parking brake is on, you won’t be able to disengage it. It’s possible you could plug it back in yourself, but you may need a mechanic to take a look.
Blame it on the Weather
When winter temperatures hit, they’re not just hard on you. If it’s below freezing, it’s possible parts of your transmission have frozen,
such as a shift lock solenoid. This can keep your car stuck in Park until it thaws out. Luckily, that means you may be able to shift back out of Park if you allow your car to warm up for a while first.
AAMCO Orlando’s Mechanics Are Here for Any Auto Repair Needs
Transmission trouble got you down? Don’t stress, the transmission experts at your local AAMCO can help get your car moving again. Whether it’s a simple fix or you need a more complex transmission repair, we have you covered. Give us a call with questions or schedule your appointment online.