How to shift out of park with dead battery.

GN2018 · February 17, 2022

I looked through the manual but could not find an answer. I have push start. If my battery dies, how do I shift out of park? I had this problem with my Impala and there was a process to move it out of park manually so you can move the vehicle if the battery is dead. I couldn’t find a similar procedure for my truck. Is there one?

reeseb · February 17, 2022

Try this: Press and hold the start/stop button with foot off the brake pedal for 3-5 sec. Dashboard will flash. Then try shifting out of park.

GN2018 · February 17, 2022

I can’t really “try” something right now. I was just trying to be prepared. When my battery went out on my Impala, I had no idea how to get the car out of park. I was stuck in front of a gas pump. I wanted to just push it out of the way and go buy a new battery. Instead, I had to call road service to get the car jumped. I vowed not to let that happen again. When I look at the manual, there was a procedure to manually move it out of park. I couldn’t find that for the truck. It may be that the trans is fully electric and there’s no way to manually get it out of park. Hoping someone here would know.

Z714Mike · February 18, 2022

Until we find out the process, how about connecting a battery jumper battery pack, should give enough energy to switch into neutral?

hope there is a better idea though…

Byrds8 · February 18, 2022

This is a very good question I have wondered myself. There seems to be no way to put it in neutral unless its started.

GN2018 · February 18, 2022

11 hours ago, Z714Mike said:

Until we find out the process, how about connecting a battery jumper battery pack, should give enough energy to switch into neutral?

hope there is a better idea though…

I think this may be the only practical solution. With the Impala, there was a way to get to the linkage and let it release manually. I don’t see anything like that for the truck. This leads me to thinking a should get a battery pack, even if a small one, for emergencies. Even if it can’t start the truck, it seems likely that it could at least let it be put in neutral.

BlancoSilverado · February 18, 2022

I am wondering the same,

"If i had left my lights on all night and needed to move my truck to jump from another vehicle, how would I shift it to neutral with a completely dead batter?"

Would have been a better way to ask the question.

** i checked the user manual and it has nothing about a dead battery(quickly skimmed it)**

Edited February 18, 2022 by BlancoSilverado
** added more info**

Z714Mike · February 18, 2022

I’ll disconnect (to simulate) my battery and try using a battery pack this weekend.
let you know then.

redwngr · February 20, 2022

Longer jumper cables are more expensive, but they can be effective.

Being able to jump without being nose-to-nose can save a lot of grief.

Sometimes it just isn't practical maneuver the vehicles to be nose to nose.

Of course the longer they are the heavier the gauge needs to be to carry the same current without a drop in voltage.

GN2018 · February 21, 2022

3 hours ago, redwngr said:

Longer jumper cables are more expensive, but they can be effective.

Being able to jump without being nose-to-nose can save a lot of grief.

Sometimes it just isn't practical maneuver the vehicles to be nose to nose.

Of course the longer they are the heavier the gauge needs to be to carry the same current without a drop in voltage.

I just watched MotorWeek, my weekly Sunday morning ritual. Pat Goss, the mechanic segment, said that it wasn’t a good idea to use jumper cables on modern cars due to the electronics. He said to use one of those power pack type battery jumpers because they have safety mechanisms in them to prevent damage to the vehicle electronics.

I do not know if he’s correct, but I think I’d look into it further before I spent money on jumper cables. My guess is that some heavy duty long jumper cables probably cost close to a nice battery pack jumper. Either way, if he’s correct, it will certainly be cheaper in the long run if it prevents you from damaging your vehicle.

Byrds8 · February 21, 2022

I personally have a jump box for both our vehicles. The jump box was around $100. However you can get jumper cables that are 4 gauge and 20' long for around $30. At those specs it will jump up to a 6L. For the longest time they have said do not use jumper cables on your vehicle so its not something more recent.