Transmission will not shift out of park into any gear?

Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 DODGE CHARGER
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
The console shifter won't move when the car is running. It will move but not shift into any gear when not running. Under a storage tray to the right of the shifter is an orange pull strap the controls a lever. I thought it was the shifter override, but it doesn't appear to be. Is there another shifter override in front of the console shifter. The knob is held on with a torx screw, so I wasn't able to remove it when I went to check the situation out. I did confirm that the shift cable was attached to the transmission linkage, but I didn't try shifting the transmission at the linkage yet. The instrument cluster dropped out but the fuse in the truck is good. I couldn't find any designated under the hood to the instrument cluster. I'm not sure if the two issues are related or if we're looking at a BCM or ECM issue. I will get the shift knob off and the cover plate so I can see if the cable is connected to the shifter. What would be causing the shifter to be locked? I look forward to your response, right now the car is stuck where it is. It does start and idle fine.
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 AT 6:10 PM

34 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

Are the brake lights working? Power to the park lock actuator comes from the brake light switch.

As far as a bypass, I attached the directions below. Give that a try and let me know if it helps.

Take care,

joe

See pics below.
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Saturday, May 25th, 2024 AT 7:50 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
I will find out if the brake lights work. However, this vehicle does not have that override. There is an orange pull loop on a steel lever that lifts up? Aren't they also supposed to have another override? It seems the shifter is stuck in the middle range of the gate between P and D. When it is manually moved it goes right back to that position.
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Saturday, May 25th, 2024 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Jeff,

I attached a pic below that I found. Does this help? Other than these two, nothing other is provided for this vehicle.

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below.
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Sunday, May 26th, 2024 AT 7:16 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
I'll get a picture and then we can both scratch our heads.
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Sunday, May 26th, 2024 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Sounds like a plan, Jeff. LOL What kind of bike is that in the pic you attached?

Let me know. If I don't hear from you before tomorrow, Happy Memorial Day!

Joe
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Sunday, May 26th, 2024 AT 8:02 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
That's one of my babies. It's a 1978Z1R KZ1000D with a Wiseco 1105 big bore kit, Andrews 2x cams, oversize intakes, Mikuni 29 smoothbores and a Kerker 4 into 1 exhaust. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday. I may get the photo tomorrow if I get over there.
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Sunday, May 26th, 2024 AT 8:07 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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I thought I recognized it but I wasn't sure. LOL. All I can say is Hold On!

Take care and I'll check in tomorrow to see if you got the pic.

Joe
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Sunday, May 26th, 2024 AT 8:29 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
Apparently, the brake lights work, and I'll have photos of the release? Later today.
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Monday, May 27th, 2024 AT 7:46 AM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
I was able to look more closely at the shifter. There's no attachment to the cable. It appears to be electronic and I'm assuming it controls a servo that actuates the cable on the transmission. The brake lights work but I don't know if this shifter block is even getting current. I'm attaching photos of the box, the lever we previously spoke about and the linkage on the transmission as well as the cable. Where the cable originates is somewhere under the dash. Where the cable attached to the lever goes or what it does is anybody's guess. As you can see in the photos the shifter is stuck in the middle of the range of travel. I also tried pushing up on the linkage where the cable connects and was met with sprung resistance. The last picture is the Fusebox. There's a spot for a transmission relay but there are no pins there or a relay. The transmission shifter fuse is good.
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Monday, May 27th, 2024 AT 3:34 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

There is an adjustment on the cable where it attaches to the shifter. See pic 1. Pic 2 shows the cable runs under the dash and comes out under the hood. Then it attaches to the transmission shift lever. See pic 3

Let me know. The relay spot is unused.

Joe

See pics below. Note: My information is based on a floor shifter.
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Monday, May 27th, 2024 AT 6:35 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
Here's some photos of the system and parts. The cable doesn't attach to the shifter control which is baffling. The only cable is attached to the park release.
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Monday, May 27th, 2024 AT 6:43 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

I checked 2011 and 2013 to see if it may have been a midyear change. Both additional years vehicles are the same as the 2012.

So, to confirm what you are saying, if you open the hood, there is no cable coming from the firewall to the transmission as seen in the pic below.

Joe

See pic below
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Monday, May 27th, 2024 AT 7:14 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
No there is but it does connect to the shifter control. The cable that connects to the release I'm not sure if it's the same cable. How would I test for power at the controller? How many volts and which wire? I don't know the colors right off hand. When I lift the release lever with the loop the cable to the transmission linkage doesn't move?
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Monday, May 27th, 2024 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

There are two different transmissions that are possible. One is a 5-speed, and the other is an 8-speed.

I attached wiring schematics below. If you have the 8-speed, it has a shift by wire design (SBW) that I have a feeling you have. If that is the case, we need to scan the can-bus system to determine the cause of the issue. In this design, different modules communicate back and forth via the CAN (controller area network).

Here is a link that explains how it's done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

With the 5-speed trans, you can check the actuator for power via the brown wire with a yellow tracer at the shifter assembly. You should have battery voltage.

I attached the wiring schematics for both designs below. Note there are no identified actuators for the 8-speed. Instead, it is done via the can-bus SBW. The first two pics are the 5-speed and the last two are the 8-speed. I had to cut the page in half to make it readable for you, but I did overlap them so you can follow from one to the next.

Let me know if this helps.

Joe

See pics below.
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Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
I had a feeling it was drive by wire and I don't think my scanner will do a can scan. It's a Foxwell NT630 plus. It will scan for transmission codes but that probably won't help.
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Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 AT 7:38 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

Give it a try and see if anything shows up. It may be indicated with the transmission. I suspect you have the 8-speed transmission.

Have you ever turned the key off with the transmission in gear? If so, does it automatically shift to park?

Joe
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Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
Push button start. The shifter just stays in the middle.
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Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 AT 7:51 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

The shifter is designed by Mercedes (to the best of my knowledge). When you say it stays in the center, I now understand what you have. The shifter itself really doesn't move more than one click and returns to its starting point.

We need to scan the CAN on this to see if there is a code that will point us in the right direction. Otherwise, it will become a guessing game which can get expensive.

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 470 POSTS
Okay, I'm not one to throw parts at a problem. I'll scan it with mine and see what comes up but I'll probably have to come up with a CAN scanner.
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Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 AT 8:55 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,089 POSTS
Hi,

Let me know what you find out.

Joe
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Thursday, May 30th, 2024 AT 8:05 PM

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