Gear Knob Button STUCK!!

[a2jack]

The shifter dog may have a load on it. (car on slight incline) Try rocking the car forward and back while lifting the yellow lever. Be sure the key switch is on!

Remember it's all just plastic so go easy. A2Jack

[Pamela&Jon]

Our little girl got stuck in PARK yesterday on Market street in San Francisco. we called the 1-800 number for a towing. After about 30 minutes or so of the Penske kid walking us through different solutions he called the towing company.

We waited about an hour, the guy who came really knew what he was doing (I think most flatbed tow trucks do high end cars).

We expected to hear from SmartSF first thing, by 10:30am when I had not heard from them I called, they did not even know they had my car! When I heard back, they also confirmed that it needed lubrication.

We are too somewhere in the 3k range --- I would STRONGLY recommend that you take you Smart in for some preventative medicine. Having her towed was not such an awful experience, but why go through that if you can make a 15 minute appointment and avoid the experience!

[SmarTek-TNG]

Greeting all, I apologize in advance... I was too lazy to read all 6 previous pages of this thread, so what I am about to say may be repetative.

In my experience, there are two problems with the shifter getting stuck: one common, one not so common. The common problem is that the little plastic 'plunger' inside the shift knob is not lubricated from the factory, and eventually gets tight enough that you can no long shift out of park. The solution to this is easy: take the **** knob off and apply a dab of silicone grease to the plunger. The shifter button should be fluid and easy to depress. To get the knob off, I use a black rubber bungee cord.. wrap it wround the little plastic 'cone' piece directly below the shift knob.. twist forcefully counterclockwise (looking from the top) to unlock the knob. It can take a lot of force to unlock, so take it to your dealership if you think you might break it. To reinstall: slide the knob back on (make sure it's lined up correctly) and twist clockwise using the bungee cord again (it will be much easier to lock and unlock after the first time you unlock it).

The other problem is that the entire shifter console itself will fail internally.. this will set a code that the dealer can see with their laptop (the other sticking shifter button will not set a code). The solution is to replace the entire shifter assembly. I think you generally get dashes in your instrument cluster display when this happens, as the car can not determine what gear it is in.

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by SmarTek-TNG

[...] The common problem is that the little plastic 'plunger' inside the shift knob is not lubricated from the factory, and eventually gets tight enough that you can no long shift out of park. The solution to this is easy: take the **** knob off and apply a dab of silicone grease to the plunger. The shifter button should be fluid and easy to depress. To get the knob off, I use a black rubber bungee cord.. wrap it wround the little plastic 'cone' piece directly below the shift knob.. twist forcefully counterclockwise (looking from the top) to unlock the knob. It can take a lot of force to unlock, so take it to your dealership if you think you might break it. To reinstall: slide the knob back on (make sure it's lined up correctly) and twist clockwise using the bungee cord again (it will be much easier to lock and unlock after the first time you unlock it). [...]

Thank you again for your contribution, SmarTek-TNG!
To help those who are more visually oriented, check the first highlighted and locked thread (FAQs) in this "Operation and Maintenance" sub-forum, you'll find a short video:
DIY gear shift removal and lube (short video)
and other useful DIYs.

[gklott]

We had this happen today. Purchased March 2008, 6500 miles.

[gklott]

Everyone who experienced this, please go to: IVOQ - File a Complaint and file a complaint. Need to get this on record. This is a defect.

[a2jack]

Originally Posted by gklott

We had this happen today. Purchased March 2008.

Looks like this problem is still happening on the early models. Easy "no tool" get home unlock in the stickies at the start of this forum. A2Jack

[citroen]

shift stuck in P. My local smart/mini repair guy shot some lube into the button. works like a charm. 9000 miles.

[davidawilliams]

As others have noted, turn the cowling just below the knob about 1/8 turn to the left (with two very firm hands or cloth-protected pliers), then pull the shift knob straight up. What remains is a small plastic T element. Yes, you can use fancy sprays and greases, but another simple and available method is just to wipe your finger across your forehead, between those two bushy eyebrows, then rub this miniscule amount of oil on the top of and around the T element.

Reassemble.

Fixed.

My fix lasted for two-plus years. I just had to do it again yesterday and it once again clicks and shifts like silk. No towing; no purchases necessary.