GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Cadillac 🢒 2009 🢒 CTS 🢒 Features and Controls 🢒 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle 🢒 Shifting Into Park

Shifting Into Park Automatic Transmission

Caution: It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer .

Use this procedure to shift into P (Park):

  1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake.

    2. See Parking Brake for more information.

  2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the button on the shift lever and pushing the lever all the way toward the front of the vehicle.
  3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
  4. For vehicles with key access, remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, the vehicle is in P (Park). Vehicles with the keyless access system, take the keyless access transmitter with you.

Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine Running (Automatic Transmission)

Caution: It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch fire. You or others could be injured. Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running.

If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running, the vehicle must be in P (Park) and the parking brake set. After shifting into P (Park), try to move the shift lever out without first pushing the button on the shift lever.

If you can, the shift lever was not fully locked into P (Park).

Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)

Torque lock is when the weight of the vehicle puts too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. This happens when parking on a hill and shifting the transmission into P (Park) is not done properly and then it is difficult to shift out of P (Park). To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into P (Park). To find out how, see "Shifting Into P (Park)" listed previously.

If torque lock does occur, your vehicle may need to be pushed uphill by another vehicle to relieve the parking pawl pressure, so you can shift out of P (Park).