These instructions apply to the Dodge Magnum Mk1 (LX) 2005-2008.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If your automatic Dodge Magnum (LX, 2005–2008) will not shift out of Park — usually because the battery is flat, a fuse has blown, or the shift-interlock has a fault — the car has a built-in override so you can select neutral and roll or winch it onto a flatbed. It is a recovery step, not a repair.
Why the Shifter Locks in Park
The Magnum has a Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) that holds the selector in P whenever the ignition is in LOCK. Normally you release it by turning the ignition to ON and pressing the brake. If the car has no power — and on the LX the battery lives in the rear under the cargo floor, so a dead cell here is common — the interlock cannot release electrically, and the manual override is what frees the lever.
Before You Start
- Set the parking brake or chock the wheels first — once in neutral a heavy wagon rolls on the slightest slope.
- Work on level ground, or with the Magnum already strapped to the recovery truck.
How to Use the Shift-Lock Override
The override is a pink-coloured tab reached through a hole inside the console storage bin. To use it:
- Put the key in the ignition and turn it to the ACC or ON position (the override needs the switch out of LOCK).
- Lift out the rubber storage tray from the bin located to the right of the selector lever.
- Through the hole inside the bin, press the pink-coloured override tab and hold it.
- With the tab pressed, move the selector out of P into N (neutral) — you do not need to press the brake while the override is held.
- Refit the rubber storage tray to its original position. The wagon can now be rolled or winched — keep it braked or chocked until it is secured.
If It Still Will Not Move
Make sure the key is in ACC or ON (not LOCK), that you are pressing the pink tab through the hole in the bin, and that you have reached neutral rather than reverse. If the selector frees but the car will not roll, the parking brake is still set or a wheel is chocked.
After the Override
This only frees the wagon; it does not fix the cause. Most often it is a flat or tired battery under the cargo floor — once power is restored the selector behaves normally again (see our Magnum battery disconnect and reconnect guide). If the battery is healthy but the shifter keeps sticking, a fault will be stored; a brake-light switch or the interlock solenoid are common causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my automatic Magnum stuck in Park? Almost always a flat battery or blown fuse stopping the interlock releasing; a failed brake-light switch or interlock solenoid does the same.
Will using the override damage anything? No — it is the factory override made for exactly this. Press the pink tab gently, select neutral, and refit the tray afterwards.
Where is the override on the Magnum? Under the rubber tray in the console bin to the right of the selector — a pink tab reached through a hole inside the bin.
Do I need the key on? Yes — turn the ignition to ACC or ON so the override will operate; you do not need to hold the brake while pressing the tab.
If the shifter keeps sticking with a healthy battery, look the stored fault code up on our sister site autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Dodge. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.