No shift lock override?

stepper459 · Post by **stepper459** » 26 Feb 2016, 08:01

Hello,

I've read threads on this site many times over the years, but never actually owned a Volvo personally. My wife had a 2005 S40 that we loved, and my parents have an '06 XC70 also.

This relates to the XC70: recently it had a faulty ignition switch, causing the key not to rotate past position 1. I read on this site and some others about how to get around this issue and get the car to a shop at least - but my question is not directly related. When it looked like we would have to tow the car, we realized we couldn't get it into Neutral without having the key turned beyond where we could turn it. I looked all over for a bypass, like most automatic cars have, and could not find one at all.

Can someone confirm whether this generation of car either has, or does not have, a shift lock override mechanism of some kind?

I believe the previous generation of this car had a button or some mechanism right next to the shifter itself, and the latest generation has a mechanism behind the center control stack, under the rubber mat. But this one? I couldn't find one, and the dealer SA didn't know about one.

The only solution I could find was to remove the air box under the hood, release the shift cable from the transmission, and move the shift lever by hand. We were eventually able to actually start the car by attaching needle-nose vise grips to the metal part of the key, and carefully rotate it through the resistance to just start the car normally. But in the future, we were curious if there was a way to get the car into neutral in the event of some other mechanical failure (as with the ignition switch).

Thanks in advance for your responses.

nsjames · Post by **nsjames** » 26 Feb 2016, 12:48

The only solution I could find was to remove the air box under the hood, release the shift cable from the transmission, and move the shift lever by hand.

and there's your answer.
no manual over ride.

stepper459 · Post by **stepper459** » 26 Feb 2016, 14:22

nsjames wrote:
The only solution I could find was to remove the air box under the hood, release the shift cable from the transmission, and move the shift lever by hand.
and there's your answer.
no manual over ride.

Thanks! That's bizarre, since the generations on either side BOTH have some mechanism. I figured it was a mandated thing, but I guess not!

nsjames · Post by **nsjames** » 26 Feb 2016, 17:52

Every auto car I've ever driven had a manual over ride for the shifter.

except this one. I spent an hour looking in the car for it and read the complete owner's manual.

It doesn't exist.
It does seem like a dumb oversight to me as well. A simple button to move the release rod isn't a monumental engineering challenge, and can just make life a whole lot easier if you need it.

Post by **vtl** » 27 Feb 2016, 06:39

Don't tow it for a long distance, the bearings inside transmission are not lubricated without engine running.

stepper459 · Post by **stepper459** » 29 Feb 2016, 09:10

nsjames wrote:Every auto car I've ever driven had a manual over ride for the shifter.

except this one. I spent an hour looking in the car for it and read the complete owner's manual.

It doesn't exist.
It does seem like a dumb oversight to me as well. A simple button to move the release rod isn't a monumental engineering challenge, and can just make life a whole lot easier if you need it.

It especially seems crazy in the context of other generations of the same car having such a mechanism.

I guess it's a seldom-used feature that they took out to save a penny or two, and somehow it got re-introduced because it was actually missed. In any case, thanks for the answer!

stepper459 · Post by **stepper459** » 29 Feb 2016, 09:11

vtl wrote:Don't tow it for a long distance, the bearings inside transmission are not lubricated without engine running.

Good point. In this case we were only trying to get it up onto a flatbed, but didn't want to drag it diagonally out of its parking space. Luckily we were able to turn the key with enough force to start the car - but not break the key - so it became a moot point. As this car is getting up in age, I figured I'd ask the question for "next time" in case there is one. It's not my car anyway... but my parents do lean on me for car advice quite a bit.

toddb1975 · Post by **toddb1975** » 01 Mar 2016, 18:42

I had an issue with my '05 S60. I would press the button on the shifter and depress the brake, but the stick wouldn't allow me to move it out of park. I couldn't locate an over ride. I eventually yanked the top off the shifter (not easy by the way) and pulled the rod out of the shaft of the shifter. This allowed my to easily move it into any gear, and get back home. I later discovered that the button had simply failed. I replaced the head of the shifter, and my problem was solved. I don't know if 'manually over-riding' the shifter lock like this would have helped in your case, but if so, it sounds like its a whole lot easier then what you had to do.