By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • International News & Politics
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Money & Finance
    • Mobile and Telecommunication
    News
    Get breaking news, music updates, and celebrity stories from Uganda and East Africa. Stay informed with Lifestyle Uganda—your insider source for real-time industry updates.
    Show More
    Top News
    Lycamobile Uganda data bundles and voice (1)
    Lycamobile Uganda: 4 Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
    4th April 2025
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    5th October 2023
    lifestyleug.com__Airtel Uganda revises its double data bundle offers (1)
    Airtel Uganda Is Now Offering Double Data Bundles for Its Smartphone Users
    Sponsored by
    TK Makeup Empire
    Latest News
    Marketing pioneer Daniel Ogong to exit Stanbic Bank after distinguished tenure
    23rd September 2025
    UNEB releases 2025 national examination timetables, marking rise in candidate numbers
    23rd September 2025
    Uganda dismisses visa ban rumours as ties with UAE deepen
    21st September 2025
    Hisense Launches Ultra-Premium 116-Inch TV in Uganda, Linking Tech to Community Impact
    20th September 2025
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Celebrity
    • Biography
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Pop Culture
      • Travel/Culture
    Entertainment
    Stay up-to-date with Lifestyle Uganda Entertainment—the latest news, celebrity gossip, films, and TV shows from Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
    Show More
    Top News
    Lycamobile Uganda data bundles and voice (1)
    Lycamobile Uganda: 4 Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
    4th April 2025
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    5th October 2023
    Maro, Maurice Kirya Help German singer Mark Forster Cross Over With “Chip In”
    17th November 2018
    Latest News
    Muhoza Trivia Elle wins Miss Uganda 2025/26 with message for single mothers
    23rd September 2025
    Sheilah Gashumba defends lifestyle after backlash over BBC Dubai trafficking exposé
    19th September 2025
    Dokta Brain exits Zhafar as Ugandan music labels face big challenges
    18th September 2025
    Shaka iLembe to end with season three, telling the final chapter of Zulu king’s reign
    5th September 2025
  • Fashion
    • Beauty Trends
    • Accessories
    • Hair
    • Lipstick
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
    FashionShow More
    Elle Trivia Muhoza is the new Miss Uganda, taking over from Natasha Nyonyozi.
    Muhoza Trivia Elle wins Miss Uganda 2025/26 with message for single mothers
    23rd September 2025
    Hollywood favourite Giorgio Armani dies at 91.
    Giorgio Armani, designer behind a $10bn empire, dies aged 91
    5th September 2025
    Santa Anzo and Inspire Africa at UNAA 2025.
    Inspire Africa joins Santa Anzo in coffee-meets-fashion showcase at the UNAA Convention in New Orleans
    30th August 2025
    MultiChoice backs beauty training to boost local storytelling.
    MultiChoice Uganda backs makeup masterclass to boost local talent, strengthen film industry
    31st July 2025
    Miss Uganda 2025 launch highlights shift in strategy.
    Search for Miss Uganda 2025/2026 Begins with Centralised Format
    13th June 2025
  • Health & Living
  • Tips & Advice
Search
© 2023 Lifestyle Uganda. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Shift Lock Release: What Is It, And How Do You Fix It?
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health & Living
Search
  • Home
  • News
    • International News & Politics
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Money & Finance
    • Mobile and Telecommunication
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Celebrity
    • Biography
    • Lifestyle
  • Fashion
    • Beauty Trends
    • Accessories
    • Hair
    • Lipstick
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Health & Living
  • Tips & Advice
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2023 Lifestyle Uganda. A Now & Entertainment Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
Lifestyle Uganda > Blog > Automotive > Vehicle Maintenance and Repair > Shift Lock Release: What Is It, And How Do You Fix It?
NewsVehicle Maintenance and Repair

Shift Lock Release: What Is It, And How Do You Fix It?

Editorial Staff
Last updated: 21st January 2023 1:18 pm
By
Editorial Staff
ByEditorial Staff
Get exclusive celebrity updates featuring Jose Chamelone, Sheebah, Azawi, and Eddy Kenzo, plus the latest music news—only on Lifestyle Uganda.
Follow:
Share
7 Min Read
lifestyleug.com__How Do You Fix Shift Lock Release
When the shift lock is released, the button is no longer in the slot in the shifter. Thus, it is no longer illuminated and does not function. PHOTO via @JapaneseCarTrade
SHARE

Shift lock release mechanisms for automatic transmission cars are located next to the gear lever, and they work differently from those for manual transmissions.

lifestyleug.com__How Do You Fix Shift Lock Release
When the shift lock is released, the button is no longer in the slot in the shifter. Thus, it is no longer illuminated and does not function. PHOTO via @JapaneseCarTrade

KAMPALA | LIFESTYLE UGANDA — A shift lock release mechanism is located next to the gear lever on an automatic transmission car and works differently from a manual transmission car.

Contents
  • What is the shift lock release button?
  • How do you use the shift lock release button?
  • When is the shift lock release needed?
  • What causes the failure?
  • How to fix a malfunctioning shift lock release and what to do in an emergency?

What is the shift lock release button?

The shifter on a manual transmission has the shift lock button, which works like this: The button is not used to engage the clutch. It’s not to activate the parking gears. It’s not to select a gear or reverse. 

The shift lock button simply says “START.” If you press the button to start the car or shift out of gear, the car will try to move. 

If the gear lever doesn’t move the car, and you try to engage the clutch with the shift lock button pressed, the car won’t move. The reason is that the shift lock button is a shift protection circuit. 

If the shift lock button is pressed, the transmission will stop to prevent it from shifting any further without a proper release of the emergency brake. How do you fix a shift lock problem?

- Advertisement -
lifestyle uganda adwords

How do you use the shift lock release button?

In most automatic transmission cars, the shift lock release is moved to a small pocket mounted on the inside of the shift lever. On a manual transmission car, this button is located on the shifter itself. 

When the shift lock is released, the button is no longer in the slot in the shifter. Thus, it is no longer illuminated and does not function. 

To get it back into the position to turn the car into Drive or Reverse, one needs to turn the shifter into Reverse, place the finger on the button and let go of the shifter (with the clutch pedal depressed). 

The button will then turn into the position it was in when the shift lock was engaged. Did you know? The two-manual transmission cars that had the most problems in the US were Saabs and Mazda RX-7s. 

More Read

lifestyleug.com__the winners of the Couture Africa Style Awards 2021 (1)
Couture Africa Style Awards 2021 Winners: From Azziad, Koinange, Kenzo to Bobi Wine
Craig David to Headline Second ‘World of Sounds’ Concert in Kampala
Ugandan legal icon George Kanyeihamba dies aged 85
Former Brazilian Minister of Sports Pele Died at the Age of 82
Customers Get More Minutes and Data With MTN Super Bundles

When is the shift lock release needed?

When the driver doesn’t have a drive-in mind when he starts the car. Or maybe he’s simply in a hurry and he thinks that, for the time being, he needs to use the car in whatever gear that may be in use. 

- Advertisement -

What you’ll see is this behaviour. The car will start to move in the only gear that’s a smidge too low for the engine to run efficiently. 

But the driver can’t get off the gas because the transmission doesn’t have the gears in any case, and the engine will continue to run, unaware of the problem. So it’s important to release the shift lock. 

- Advertisement -

How do I remove the shift lock? The shift lock is the lever on the gear lever that engages the shift lock mechanism.

What causes the failure?

A problem may be encountered when the gear lever is not moved all the way back. The car may not be driving properly or the car may be experiencing a serious malfunction.

If the shift lock release button is not pushed in all the way, the car may not be able to shift the car in the next gear. The car may not be able to shift the car in gear and it may be in a dangerous situation.

When the shift lock release button is not pushed in completely, the car may not be able to shift the car in the next gear.

When the shift lock release button is pushed halfway, it may be not sufficient to shift the car into the next gear.

Shift lock release can fail due to a problem with the transmission itself. If the gear lever is not moved completely back, the lock-up mechanism may not engage the gears.

When you are backing out of your garage or driveway, this is the most critical part of the operation. The gear lever activates the release mechanism. The release mechanism is attached to the transmission mechanism.

How to fix a malfunctioning shift lock release and what to do in an emergency?

When you shift gears, your vehicle makes a noise and vibrates to indicate a press of the shift lock button. It does this over and over until you hit the parking brake. It’s a little like when you stand in line to get a burrito: the burrito machine makes a noise until you push the button. 

When the shift lock button goes off, there’s an audible click indicating that the transmission is locked. There’s nothing to worry about in this situation. The vehicle has simply reset itself. 

The only thing to do is use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. There’s no mechanical reason for the shift lock release button to go off when you don’t want it to. 

So, if you own a modern automatic transmission car, chances are that it’s malfunctioning and needs to be fixed.

Justice Tweyanze Takes Charge in Kasese with Focus on Reform and Discipline
Rwanda and DRC Sign U.S.-Brokered Peace Deal Amid Praise, Criticism
Maureen Salon UG launches Website for beauty and Skincare
Congratulations: Sheila Saltofte Is Engaged to Boyfriend Maxim Guillaume Kizito
Buzz Teenz Awards 2021 Winners: The Complete List
TAGGED:fix shift lock releasefix shift lock release buttonmalfunctioning shift lock release failure shift lock releaserelease fix shift lockshift lock override buttonshift lock releaseshift lock release buttonshift lock release fixshift lock released buttonshift releasewhat is shift lock release

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Reddit Email Copy Link
Share
ByEditorial Staff
Follow:
Get exclusive celebrity updates featuring Jose Chamelone, Sheebah, Azawi, and Eddy Kenzo, plus the latest music news—only on Lifestyle Uganda.
Previous Article Shift Lock Release Button Shift Lock Release Button: What It Means And How To Use It
Next Article beiber Unveiling the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees

Stay Connected

45.2kFollowersLike
5.1kFollowersFollow
213FollowersPin
35.6kFollowersFollow
11kSubscribersSubscribe
400FollowersFollow
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Stanbic Bank names interim marketing head as Daniel Ogong departs.
Marketing pioneer Daniel Ogong to exit Stanbic Bank after distinguished tenure
Business News
23rd September 2025
The Uganda National Examinations Board has released the 2025 PLE, UCE, and UACE timetables.
UNEB releases 2025 national examination timetables, marking rise in candidate numbers
Education News
23rd September 2025
Elle Trivia Muhoza is the new Miss Uganda, taking over from Natasha Nyonyozi.
Muhoza Trivia Elle wins Miss Uganda 2025/26 with message for single mothers
Entertainment Fashion
23rd September 2025
Ugandan workers in UAE told to ignore false visa ban reports.
Uganda dismisses visa ban rumours as ties with UAE deepen
International News & Politics News
21st September 2025
//

At Lifestyle Uganda, we inform, entertain, and inspire action through the content we create — empowering you to live a celebrity life.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health & Living

Top Categories

  • About Us
  • Send a Tip
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
Follow US
© 2025 Lifestyle Uganda. A Now & Entertainment Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..
I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

Not a member? Sign Up