[Alfalisa62#]

Park Lock System
The transmission uses a shift-by-wire system, so there is no mechanical connection between the shifter and the transmission. The transmission uses a park lock piston to control the position of the parking pawl. The park linkage inside the transmission is spring-loaded to default into the park position and engages the teeth of the parking gear to prevent movement.

Manual Park Release

In the event of a transmission electrical failure, failure of the engine to start, or the battery has been removed for work on your car, the transmission park pawl will be engaged and the vehicle cannot be towed or moved. For this reason, the transmission is equipped with a Manual Park Release (MPR) lever (1) on the side of the housing. A M6x1.0 32mm bolt (2) must be inserted into the provided threaded hole on the side of the transmission to disengage the park mechanism. Fully seat the bolt in the hole to achieve MPR. Using a M6 bolt longer than 32 mm may cause damage to the MPR system.

Note that none of this is discussed in your Owner's Manual, so carry a bolt or one of the below tools in your tool kit with these instructions in case you need to get towed or have the garage do work on you car.

Centerline Part # TL108 $29.99 which can be screwed into the hole by hand.

My tool made from an old battery hold-down bolt which can be screwed into the hole by hand.

 

[crackie]

Excellent post. I just saw the Centerline tool posted earlier this week and brought my awareness to this. Your writeup even better. Thanks for that.

 

[OldSpi101]

VERY nice article for sure. I went to Ace hardware this morning and bought the coupling but, allthread, and nylon lock nut. Applied propane torch to bend. Nut at 32mm!! About 5" from top to bend. All 6x1.0mm thread.