These instructions apply to the Haval H2 (2015-2021).
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If the gear lever on your automatic Haval H2 (2015–2021) won’t move out of ‘P’ — typically after a flat battery or a brake-switch fault — there is a manual emergency release near the gear lever that you can operate with the key. It is a designed-in feature, not a sign the transmission is broken: it exists precisely so you can free the car and move it when there is no power to release the shift-lock normally. This guide explains why the lever locks in the first place, how to reach and operate the release safely, and what to check afterwards so it doesn’t simply happen again.
Why the Lever Locks in Park
An automatic gearbox uses a shift-lock that keeps the lever in ‘P’ until the car is powered up and you press the brake pedal. That interlock is an electrical solenoid, so it needs power and a working brake-light signal to let go. If the battery is flat, or the brake-light switch has failed, the solenoid never releases and the lever stays stuck in Park — even though nothing is mechanically wrong with the transmission itself. The emergency release is a manual override for exactly this situation: it lets you bypass the solenoid by hand so the car can be shifted to neutral and moved, for example onto a recovery truck or out of a hazardous spot.
Before You Start — Safety
- Apply the parking brake or block the wheels — releasing ‘P’ on a slope lets the car roll.
- Only do this on firm, level ground where the car can’t run away once it’s free to move.
- Have the mechanical key from the fob ready before you start, plus a screwdriver for the cover.
- Keep hands and fingers clear of the lever mechanism as it releases.
- If you can, sit in the driver’s seat with a foot ready on the brake so you stay in control once the lever frees.
Releasing the Lever from Park
- Using a screwdriver, remove the plastic cover beside the gear lever to expose the release.
- Insert the mechanical key (from the fob) into the release.
- Press the securing clip downwards and at the same time move the gear lever to ‘N’.
- The lever is freed and the car can be moved. Refit the cover afterwards.
If the Lever Still Won’t Move
- Check you have fully exposed the release — the cover needs to be off, not just loosened, to reach the clip.
- Make sure the mechanical key is seated properly in the release before you press.
- Press the clip down firmly while moving the lever — the two actions have to happen together, not one after the other.
- Confirm the parking brake is holding; a car resting hard against the parking pawl on a slope can make the lever feel jammed.
- If it still won’t release, stop — forcing it risks damage, and the fault needs investigating by a specialist.
After Using the Release
- Have the cause checked — a flat battery or brake-light switch fault commonly triggers it.
- Once power is restored and the underlying fault fixed, the normal shift-lock should work again and the manual override won’t be needed.
- A stored fault can be read — look it up on autodtcs.com.
- Refit the plastic cover so the release is protected and the console looks right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the park release on a Haval H2?
It sits under a small plastic cover beside the gear lever. Prise the cover off with a screwdriver to expose the release, then use the mechanical key from the fob to operate it. Once you’ve moved the lever to neutral, refit the cover so the mechanism stays protected.
Is it safe to use?
Only with the parking brake applied or the wheels blocked. Once the lever comes out of ‘P’ the transmission no longer holds the car, so on any slope it can roll. Do it on level ground, keep control of the car, and be ready on the brake before you free the lever.
Why won’t my lever come out of P?
Usually a flat battery or a failed brake-light switch. The shift-lock is an electrical interlock that needs power and a valid brake signal to release, so if either is missing the lever stays locked in Park even though the gearbox itself is fine. Fixing the power or switch fault restores normal operation.
Do I need any tools?
Just a screwdriver to remove the plastic cover and the mechanical key that lives inside the fob. There is no diagnostic tool involved in the release itself — though you may want a fault code read afterwards to find out why the shift-lock wouldn’t let go.
Will using the release damage anything?
No, provided you follow the steps and don’t force it. The manual override is built in for exactly this purpose. Press the securing clip and move the lever together, gently; if it resists, stop rather than forcing it, because a jammed lever usually points to a separate fault that needs looking at.
Do I need to reset anything afterwards?
Not from the release itself — once the battery or brake-switch fault is fixed, the normal shift-lock takes over again. It is worth having any stored fault code read so the root cause is dealt with, otherwise the lever may lock again next time the same condition occurs.
If the lever stuck after a battery issue, you can decode any stored fault on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Haval. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.