What does shift lock do

The manual transmission requires the driver to shift gears manually using a clutch and a gear shift. The gear shift can either be floor shift or even mounted next to the steering wheel itself which was most common in the older automobiles.

The number of gears depends on the engine size and the overall size of the automobile. Sports cars and large utility vehicles tend to have more gears than normal sedans. However, no matter what the number of gears, the driver has to shift gears manually by pressing the clutch and shifting the lever into the required gear. The automatic transmission does not have a clutch and does not require the driver to shift gears manually. The gear shift is different as well. It does not have the "H" looking pattern of a manual transmission.

Automatic transmissions generally have a vertically descending gear shift which allows the driver to switch between options like park, reverse, neutral etc. As far as the driving gear is concerned, the automobile transmission is designed to switch between those automatically by adjusting itself to the motion of the car. The shift lock works to release your transmission from P. This is because in certain situations you have to put the gear in N, for example your car needs to be towed due to a dead battery.

This is where the shift lock is needed. You can use this technique if you park the car at double parking as well. Highly recommend for you to park the car in the designated parking. Your shift interlock solenoid may also need replacing if your car is stuck in gear or the key is stuck in the ignition. You may also want to check for any recalls on your make and model car that may have to do with the shift lock release or shift lock solenoid.

Even if you already knew what a shift lock release was, you may have never thought about it in as much detail until now. One little switch is part of a mechanical system that protects you and your automatic transmission from damaging your transmission. The release button is also the one thing that will help you get your lifeless car out of the parking lot and onto the tow truck the next time your battery dies.

If you have any comments or questions about the shift lock release, please contact us. You must be logged in to post a comment. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Contact us if you have any questions :. Skip to the good stuff: Is your shift lock release stuck?

Learn how to fix it! What Is a Shift Lock Release? Those who rarely drive an automatic car may think that this feature is not necessary. However, if you are driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you know that this is an important safety feature.

I lost it while attempting to get out of park, and I want to replace it. The shift lock slot should be covered, because it came with a cover…. Japanese Used Cars for Sale Carused. With that said, here are the easy steps in using shift lock release: Make sure that the emergency brake is set. Insert the key into the ignition switch.

Ensure that the ignition switch is in the Run or On position. It is worth noting that you do not have to start the engine.