Parking Pawl Jammed on a Slope (Can’t Shift Out of Park) | MyMechanic

Why It Happens on Slopes

• Parking brake not engaged firmly before shifting to Park
• Extra passenger or luggage weight adding load
• Wheels turned into curb creating side load
• Weak / misadjusted parking brake causing vehicle settling

Safe Steps to Try First

• Keep foot firmly on brake, hazards on, chock a wheel if possible
• Have passengers step out to reduce weight
• With brake pressed, gently load handbrake uphill to relieve pawl tension
• Straighten front wheels to reduce side force
• Reapply parking brake fully, then try shifting
• Use shift‑lock release slot near shifter (with brake pressed)
• If it shifts to Neutral, roll a few cm safely, resecure brake, then engage Drive
• Do NOT force lever—can damage selector/linkage

Guided Approach

Start by securing the car: foot firmly on brake, hazards on, and engage the parking brake. If the car settled, drivetrain may be loaded. Straighten the wheels and try again. Still stuck? Use the shift-lock release slot (next to shifter) with brake pressed to override Park. If you reach Neutral, allow the car to roll just slightly to unload the pawl, secure brake, then shift to Drive. The key is to stay calm and controlled—forcing the shifter risks expensive repairs.

What Not to Do

• Don’t yank or slam the selector
• Don’t release parking brake without brake pedal pressed
• Don’t roll uncontrolled—always use chocks / brake
• Don’t keep cycling ignition in traffic instead of stabilising

How MyMechanic Helps in Malaysia

• On-site help with chocking, shift-lock release guidance, safe tension relief
• Quick checks for weak / misadjusted handbrakes
• Safe towing to workshop if selector / linkage damaged
• Clear guidance to improve future slope parking routine

Prevention That Works

• Engage parking brake fully before Park, especially on slopes
• Keep foot brake applied, then let car settle, then shift into P
• Turn wheels only after securing car, not before
• Maintain handbrake adjustment regularly
• Use wheel chocks on steep gradients for long stops

Troubleshooting Cheat Sheet

• Stuck after hill parking → engage brake, use shift-lock, select Neutral, roll to relieve
• Weak handbrake → adjust immediately, avoid slope parking
• Not freeing even with shift-lock → selector cable/bushing issue → call help
• Repeats often → review routine & brake condition

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Being stuck in Park on a slope isn’t necessarily a gearbox failure. It’s usually tension on the parking pawl. Calmly relieve drivetrain load with proper steps, and never force the lever. If stuck or unsafe, MyMechanic provides on‑site help and safe towing for Singapore cars anywhere in Malaysia.