Maybe someone has had a similar problem before.
We drive an 2002 Mazda Tribute. It’s got an automatic transmission with the “US-Style” lever behind the steering wheel. The Lever is in the P position while the indicator on the dashboard shows the 2 gear as selected.
While running, I could move the lever into the respective positions without the indicator moving. After turning off the engine, the lever can’t be moved anymore and the engine won’t turn on.
This is all together a bit of a nuisance, since it means that we’re stuck on a mountain in Nantou.
I cannot promise anything, and I don’t have experience with this specific problem, but… try to get a contacts cleaner can and spray the shit out of it (also literally :D).
Is it possible to find a service manual for this car? It should tell you how everything goes together so you can figure out how it works.
Or take it to a competent mechanic.
If you can’t move the lever once the engine is off, it means something locks it to prevent it from moving. But it’s weird that you can’t even start the engine at all. Normally you start in P and you stick the key in, and the engine should start. Actually you can’t even take the key out of the ignition unless your transmission is in P.
Is there any weird sound in the transmission? for example if someone at some point never bothered to set the parking brake and broke the parking pawl in the transmission… don’t do that by the way. Assuming your car survives the roll and didn’t kill anyone or cause any damage, it will just about destroy your transmission.
looks like the gear position indicator and the gear shift lever have come out of synch. the car won’t start unless its in Park, and now it thinks it is in 2 (even if actually in Park).
can you dismantle the steering wheel cover and have a poke around at the base of the gear shift, and see if you have a loose position sensor? maybe can move it back so it makes sense again.
otherwise, you’re SOOL at the moment. and No, you absolutely cannot start the car by rolling downhill, and without the engine running, you’ll have no steering and no brakes. so don’t do that.
If you wait long enough @Marco will see this and generously provide the Business Card of his local mechanic that provides telephone diagnosis and the fix that is necessary.
The problem was indeed the same one as in the video @SuperS54 posted. I fixed it with a ziptie and get the cable changed as soon as I’m off the mountains.
Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
