LX Shifter - can't get out of park

Guess this is a common problem with the 2005 and up automatic shifters . . . thanks to a very small plastic piece that breaks off ! The actual replacement part can be had, made out of aluminum instead of plastic (yay!!) . . . anyhow, had this happen to my 06 Magnum yesterday - luckily it was parked in the garage ! So I went to NAPA and got the part, and 1.5hr later car was moving again !! . . . here is youtube showing whats involved !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cd6Ocitj3k

Easy fix, just takes time to get to the part !!


Anyhow, for those with an automatic LX platform car . . .something to keep in mind !!!

Stay warm out there !

Cheers

Mark

Known problem..
OE part made out of nylon and breaks easily, back in 2005 Chrysler had a soft recall for it. Now a replacement part machined out of aluminum, made by Dorman #924-706..

Just my $0.02...

https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-924-706-Ch...=dorman+924-706

Not machined out of aluminum but cast from Zamak, otherwise known as "pot metal". The billet aluminum versions were made by Billet Technologies, were much more expensive, and have been discontinued.

The quality of the Dorman piece is fine. I have one installed in my 2007 Mugnum SRT8 and it works great.

Something to look forward too on my 2009 Challenger with 200,000 miles on it.

What's kinda funny is it's known a a "pink thingy".

Do a google search for dodge charger pink thingy and the issue and the replacement part is what comes up.
https://www.google.com/search?client=fir...i71.g20WI4XWwzA

I work with plastics- Injection molding and its amazing the difference in quality between lets say a name brand nylon- Zytel (expensive) and all the off brand supposed equivalents.(less expensive)

Not applicable to '08 and later.

Would this apply to a 2007 Jeep Patriot , my grand-daughter has this problem ?? She has a floor mounted shifter.

Frank

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tMzEJYqu4I

Been there done that with this situation. You can pop off the plastic over surrounding the shifter and use an ink pen to engage the button to get it out of park. I got the replacement part and installed it myself. Pretty easy but inconvenient.

Very common failure. I am sure the LX forums are all over this. Happened to me with a 07 Magnum R/T. I don't know if the replacement part it better but no failure with it so far.

I think somebody actually makes a billet replacement for the part that fails.

The Napa brand part that I got, is aluminum . . . the dorman part is also a metal part. Pretty sure that the spring won't have enough strength to break the metal versus the original plastic . . . here is the OE pink plastic piece - the white spot is where the little hook piece broke off - this holds the one end of the spring . . . no spring, no movement !! . . . hence replacing with metal version as upgrade !!

Gotta admit I was lucky to have happen while parked in the garage at home !! . . .

Yep, right in the owner's manual.

Thats only for a problem with the brake interlock . . . the "pen" solution, you have to remove the chrome trim piece around the shifter, then you can look down at the top in front of the shifter - see the cable for the shift interlock, and then put the pen down there and move the cable towards the drivers door. . . . but that is not a permanent fix . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HMirgS7tDs