Probably a stupid question

I tried googling and reading through the manual but couldn't find anything.

What is this?:


The little panel next to the shifter. I haven't pried on it super hard but it doesn't want to pop off. Does something go there on a higher trim package?

 

Its to get out of park to tow

 

Shift lock release

 

Thanks! I definitely wouldn't have figured that out

 

Not to sound even more stupid, but I don't understand. If you are towing, why wouldn't you just shift out of park and go? Why would you need to use that shift lock release?

 

He meant tow as in tow truck, not towing..

 

Its a lock override so that you can be towed if you are dead in the water. You can't shift out of park if your battery is dead.

 

Yeah, if I remember correctly, you pry the cover off and put your key in to get it out of park.

Edit: Some have a cover, some don't. My 2014 doesn't.

 

This has got to be one of, if not THE, greatest thread in the history of this site. Thank you OP!

 

Not a stupid question at all. Recently had to teach my son this little tidbit of info... his battery died and he and his friends were trying to push it and couldn’t figure out how to get it into neutral...he called me and I explained it to him and he was on his way.

I don’t remember when they started putting these on cars but when I was a kid I don’t remember cars having them.

 

My parents' 2009 Suzuki is the first vehicle I remember seeing one in but I think the next most recent automatic I've been in was a 1993...

 

Owner's manual.

Check Section 4-2 Driving Procedures, immediately after TOW/HAUL switch (Vehicles with towing package). Pics show how-to.