HELP!! Tranny Interlock

[waeromed]

My daughter just called from Mich and said her Caliber (2007) starts but won't come out of Park... I'm in Calif and cannot pop in to troubleshoot. She's had lots of "issues" with this car in the 3-4 months of owning it.

Any suggestions on where to start looking? I'm not a Dodge expert but do work on cars/trucks and rebuilt a few Jeeps etc.

Looking for a wiring diagram to see if there is an electric or mechanical interlock, etc. I suggested checking fuses and the brake pedal/stop lights to see if it has continuity (guessing on this one since most cars cant shift out of park till the brake pedal is fully depressed and perhaps there is a stuck or bad light switch...)

Any ideas where to find a schematic or troubleshooting checklist- the local parts stores don't have a Chilton or Haynes manual for these...

Since it's Sunday, the dealers are closed, it's in her garage, and she has to be at work in the AM. It was fine the last time she drove it....

Suggestions, guesses or thoughts would be appreciated!!!!

Oh yeah, Thanks!! .....This is my first post here

[bigtsr]

Originally Posted by waeromed

My daughter just called from Mich and said her Caliber (2007) starts but won't come out of Park... I'm in Calif and cannot pop in to troubleshoot. She's had lots of "issues" with this car in the 3-4 months of owning it.

Any suggestions on where to start looking? I'm not a Dodge expert but do work on cars/trucks and rebuilt a few Jeeps etc.

Looking for a wiring diagram to see if there is an electric or mechanical interlock, etc. I suggested checking fuses and the brake pedal/stop lights to see if it has continuity (guessing on this one since most cars cant shift out of park till the brake pedal is fully depressed and perhaps there is a stuck or bad light switch...)

Any ideas where to find a schematic or troubleshooting checklist- the local parts stores don't have a Chilton or Haynes manual for these...

Since it's Sunday, the dealers are closed, it's in her garage, and she has to be at work in the AM. It was fine the last time she drove it....

Suggestions, guesses or thoughts would be appreciated!!!!

Oh yeah, Thanks!! .....This is my first post here

Tell your daughter to look on the right side(passenger) of the transmission
hump on the side of the plastic is a small(size of a nickel) button that
pops out with a nailfile or small screwdriver,
Pop it out and there is a small lever that can be seen with a flashlight
push on the lever it's the emergency PARK release for the CVT.

[waeromed]

BIGTSR: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

That "secret spot" at least released the transmission from PARK....

Wonder if this is a one time anomaly or the wave of the future? I told her to run it by the dealer that sold it to her in April and see what gives. With Dodge engineering an access port like that, it sounds like it's a common occurance. Is this likely to happen again??

Again.... THANKS!

[bigtsr]

I have seen no more than 3-4 posts about the "locked in Park"
problem in about 2 yrs,so I don't believe it's a major problem.
One thing you have to understand is that the shifter is also
cable interlocked to the steering column in the Caliber and
some of the common old problems will create this problem.
One of these is having the wheels cranked hardover when
you turn the ignition off,I think almost everyone has done that.
The cable to shifter interlock is adjustable by the dealer.