Service Transmission Unable to Park

[Becker11]

Gents,

I have a weird one for the group today. I drove to the store in a pretty severe snow storm this evening. When I returned home, I shifted the truck in to park and let my foot off the brake. Truck rolled backwards and then presented a check engine light with the message stating something along the lines of service transmission, use parking brake.

The rotary shifter was then locked in park but I was unable to remove my key. It now sits in the driveway with the keys in the ignition, accessory power on, and I'm unable to lock the doors. Has anyone ever had a problem like this? Its unsettling to be forced to leave my keys in the ignition over night considering it is completely possible to turn it back on and drive away. Is there a shift linkage on the trans that could be full of ice or am I looking at trans failure or something else here? I can take it to the dealer but I don't want to go in for something that isn't covered by powertrain warranty or is a quick fix.

I did search around and got conflicting info on whether the shift linkage is inside or outside the trans housing.

Any help is appreciated. Have to get kids to school and get to work in the morning...

2016 Ram 1500, 5.7, 8sp, 4x4 w/ auto
Rotary shifter, 52k miles, powertrain warranty is in effect.

 

[PoMansRam]

You could try to get it into park manually. Refer to your manual or the internet for that process. It's pretty easy and all done from in the cab.

At least you'd be able to start it and get it warmed up.

Weird one indeed.

 

[crash68]

If you have to leave the keys in it. Pull the starter solenoid relay (K07) and for good measure the fuel pump fuse(I think it's F70). They won't be able to drive it away.
To lock the doors, push the lock button before you open the driver's door. The door will still open by the handle, then manually push the lock stem down.

 

[Neil E]

Have you had the autopark recall done recently? How many miles on your truck?

 

[Becker11]

I did have the auto park recall done recently. Truck has 52k miles. I started it this morning and the battery was so drained it could hardly turn the motor over. After about 15 mins of warming up, I tried cycling the trans again. This time it clunked in to park. I've been driving around a bit today and it seems to be functioning as expected. Must have been snow and ice preventing it from going in to park.

I did stop by my local parts store for a code read. Check engine light is on with code P0850 Park/Neutral Switch.

Good news, I'm on the road and I can get my keys out of the ignition. Bad news, gotta figure out how to clear the code and pray it doesn't come back.

 

[indept]

You should call the dealer, it may be an easy fix and should be covered by the powertrain warranty which is 5/60 (I think).

 

[huntergreen]

If you can start the truck, start it and turn the steering wheel in both directions a couple times then try to remove the key.

 

[Neil E]

It should be covered under the warranty, and I'm wondering if it has to do with the programming done for the recall.

 

[Becker11]

Thanks for all if the input. The truck is working as expected and the check engine light turned off after a few short trips. I think snow and ice got jammed up in the shift linkage on the trans. When I parked, the range of motion was restricted and didnt allow it to shift in to park. It must have thawed over night and cleared up the issue.

 

[RamCares]

Gents,

I have a weird one for the group today. I drove to the store in a pretty severe snow storm this evening. When I returned home, I shifted the truck in to park and let my foot off the brake. Truck rolled backwards and then presented a check engine light with the message stating something along the lines of service transmission, use parking brake.

The rotary shifter was then locked in park but I was unable to remove my key. It now sits in the driveway with the keys in the ignition, accessory power on, and I'm unable to lock the doors. Has anyone ever had a problem like this? Its unsettling to be forced to leave my keys in the ignition over night considering it is completely possible to turn it back on and drive away. Is there a shift linkage on the trans that could be full of ice or am I looking at trans failure or something else here? I can take it to the dealer but I don't want to go in for something that isn't covered by powertrain warranty or is a quick fix.

I did search around and got conflicting info on whether the shift linkage is inside or outside the trans housing.

Any help is appreciated. Have to get kids to school and get to work in the morning...

2016 Ram 1500, 5.7, 8sp, 4x4 w/ auto
Rotary shifter, 52k miles, powertrain warranty is in effect.

Hello Becker11,

As one of the members stated, please go to the link below and enter your vin. This site will notify you of all the open recalls on your vehicle, your vehicle could potentially be effected by the auto park recall.

https://www.mopar.com/en-us/my-vehicle/recalls/search.html

Please let us know if you have any questions.


Lamar
RAM Social Care Specialist

 

[Becker11]

Hello Becker11,

As one of the members stated, please go to the link below and enter your vin. This site will notify you of all the open recalls on your vehicle, your vehicle could potentially be effected by the auto park recall.

https://www.mopar.com/en-us/my-vehicle/recalls/search.html

Please let us know if you have any questions.


Lamar
RAM Social Care Specialist

My vehicle was affected by U61 for cruise control and U74 for tailgate. Both have been repaired by the dealer. I have not received repair for U53, occupant restraint module. There is no mention of the auto park recall affecting my vehicle.

 

[jbrown5030]

Becker11, I have had pretty much the same thing happen to me in the first snow of the year here. How did this turn out for you? Did you end up at the dealer or just leave things like they were?

 

[Jordan cummings]

I went to a car wash today that does interior detailing. Needless to say the truck worked and rotary shifter worked fine before they took it through the wash and detailed it, now I’m stuck with the 4 lights above the knob flashing and check engine light on. The knob free spins even without the batter hooked up.