Shifter stuck in park - Here's the get me home fix.

[dave104]

I dunno' if this is related, but I'll give it a shot...I had an issue with my Toyota Corolla awhile ago where the battery went dead nose in in a parking lot. In order to jump the battery, I had to put the car in neutral, back it out, and pop the hood. But you can't shift the automatic transmission with no battery power (or, for that matter when the brake pedal light switch is broken) unless you remove a little plug and insert a screwdriver into a manual override. Since I want to be prepared, can you shift the smart from park to neutral when the battery is drained, and if not, is there a transmission override? (does that make sense?)

[toddmitchell]

great video

saved me a tow (really saved them a tow)

the guy at the dealer told me to just pull hard on the shifter and it should come off - RIGHT, not.

i was able to turn it with my hand no need for tape or tools - so i would try that first

It did not seem to need any lube as it shifted great with the little white piece, very easy and smooth. I think the problem is with the button on the shifter but i may be wrong as it seemed to work fine when off also.

there was another at the dealer with the same issue and they told me they have seen a lot with the issue

i got mine in april after a long wait on the list as i signed up the first day it was available - just over 3k miles

[mvaldes]

Since I want to be prepared, can you shift the smart from park to neutral when the battery is drained, and if not, is there a transmission override?


Check out post #1 in this thread. That's probably as close as you're going to come to an answer unless you want to disconnect the battery and then try the "get me home fix" to see if it still works.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by toddmitchell

... It did not seem to need any lube as it shifted great with the little white piece, very easy and smooth. I think the problem is with the button on the shifter but i may be wrong as it seemed to work fine when off also. ...

The knob button actuates a plastic sliding cam that depresses the white vertical shaft. Both the face of the cam and the top of the shaft need lubrication. There is little bearing surface between the two plastic pieces for really smooth, long-lasting operation. It would have been better if M-B spent a little more and made the pieces out of machined "oil-bronze" or designed the actuating knob to be on the top, directly depressing the vertical shaft.

Some of my "Emergency Roadside Procedure" cards (laminated 4" x 9" cards printed in large Arial Bold font for low-light use, and kept in the glovebox):

[phillysmart]

re: #54 Old smart

Your 'Emergency Procedure Cards' are a GREAT idea !!

Can you post the .doc files or .pdf so we all can use them?

tnx...

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by phillysmart

re: #54 Old smart

Your 'Emergency Procedure Cards' are a GREAT idea !!

Can you post the .doc files or .pdf so we all can use them?

tnx...

Can't do it as Word .doc files (too big). I'll try as .txt. (sans photos):
Attachment 646

Attachment 647

Attachment 648 (photo with yellow markers missing in file)

Missing photo:

(a2jack)

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by phillysmart

re: #54 Old smart

Your 'Emergency Procedure Cards' are a GREAT idea !!

Can you post the .doc files or .pdf so we all can use them?

tnx...

Last one:
Attachment 649

You should be able to massage the .txt files back into Word format with the proper font.

[SmartDigger]

I thought this was a thing of the past.

[BB Benz]

Originally Posted by Old smart

Last one:
Attachment 649

You should be able to massage the .txt files back into Word format with the proper font.

This is something I would like to have! Too bad these links are no longer valid!

[Crossblade]

This looks like something I need to investigate more closely as I am having the same issue...