These instructions apply to the Renault Arkana Mk1 (XJL) 2021-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If your EDC dual-clutch automatic Renault Arkana (XJL, 2021–present) won’t come out of P — typically with a flat battery or a shift-interlock fault — there’s a built-in emergency release by the selector so you can move the car. It’s a cabin-only override; no high-voltage or under-car work is involved. This is a designed-in function, not a sign that anything has broken beyond the immediate cause, and every automatic Arkana has it precisely so a dead 12 V battery can never trap the car in a garage, a parking bay, or across a driveway. The whole job takes a couple of minutes and needs nothing more than your fingers or a slim screwdriver to lift the trim.
Why the Lever Locks in Park
On a modern automatic, the selector is held in P by an electric shift interlock. In normal use that lock only releases when the car senses the ignition is on and your foot is on the brake, which stops the car being knocked out of Park by accident. The catch is that the interlock is powered: if the 12 V battery is flat or the interlock solenoid has faulted, there is nothing to energise the release and the lever stays mechanically pinned in P. The emergency override gives you a manual way past that solenoid so the car can be rolled and recovered without electrical power.
First, a Few Checks
- Apply the parking brake or chock the wheels first. Releasing the lock lets the car roll, so secure it before you touch anything.
- Park on level ground if you have any choice in the matter — never do this facing down a slope.
- Have someone in the driver’s seat, ready on the brake, if the car is on any gradient at all.
- Know where the car is going before you free it — onto a recovery truck, or just clear of an obstruction.
- A slim flat-bladed screwdriver is handy for unclipping the trim; nothing else is needed.
How to Release the Lever from P
- Depress the brake pedal.
- Remove the cover around the gear lever — carefully unclip the trim.
- Press and hold the gear-shift lock button down, and at the same time press and hold the release button revealed under the cover.
- Move the gear lever to ‘N’ (neutral).
- Refit the cover.
It is worth having the car checked afterwards — this is an emergency move to get you mobile, not a repair.
If It Won’t Release
- Keep the brake firmly pressed throughout — a half-hearted press can leave the interlock partly engaged.
- Make sure you are holding both buttons together, not one then the other; the lever only frees while both are held.
- Check the trim is fully unclipped so the release button underneath can travel its full depth.
- If the battery is completely dead, a jump pack or a boost from another battery often wakes the normal interlock so you may not need the override at all.
- If it still won’t budge with a healthy battery, stop and have the shift interlock inspected rather than forcing anything.
Afterwards
The override only gets you mobile — for example to roll off a driveway or onto a recovery truck. If the lever wouldn’t release because the battery is flat, sort the battery; once it is charged the interlock should work normally again and no further reset is needed. If the lever locked with a healthy battery, treat that as a fault and have the shift interlock checked before relying on the car.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Arkana automatic is stuck in Park — how do I move it?
Press the brake, unclip the lever cover, hold the shift-lock button and the release button together, and move the lever to N. With both buttons held the interlock frees and the car can be pushed or driven onto a transporter.
Is this safe to do myself?
Yes — it’s a cabin override with no electrical or high-voltage risk. The one real hazard is the car rolling once it is out of Park, so set the parking brake or chock a wheel first and keep a foot ready on the brake.
Why did the lever lock in P?
Almost always a flat 12 V battery, which leaves the interlock solenoid with no power to release. Less commonly the solenoid or its wiring has faulted. Either way the override is the way past it until the underlying cause is fixed.
Do I need a tool?
Usually just your fingers, or a small screwdriver to lift the cover. Once the trim is off, the shift-lock and release buttons are pressed by hand, so no special dealer tool is involved.
Will the car drive normally once it’s in neutral?
Neutral only lets the car roll freely so it can be recovered — it is not a repair. If a flat battery was to blame, recharge or replace it and the gearbox will select drive normally again; if the fault was electrical, have it diagnosed first.
Could I damage anything doing this?
No, provided you unclip the trim gently and press the buttons rather than levering the lever. The override is a designed function meant to be used by the owner in exactly this situation.
If the lever locked because of a dead battery, see our Arkana battery guide. For a stored fault code behind the interlock, look it up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Renault. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.