🚨 2022 Audi A7: Emergency Neutral
The 2022 A7 (C8 generation) uses a console-mounted electronic shifter with integrated P button and shift-by-wire technology.
✓ Expert-verified by Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — master technicians, 20+ years each.
⚠️ Chock the wheels first — neutral means the car can roll. Set the parking brake while you work, never stand downhill of the vehicle, and try a 12-volt jump before any override: power fixes most stuck-in-park problems instantly.
The procedure
- Apply the parking brake firmly and chock the wheels
- Turn the ignition to ON position (press start button twice without brake pedal, or use emergency key access if battery dead)
- Locate the shift lock override - a small rectangular cap on the left side of the shifter base
- Use a small flathead screwdriver to carefully pry off the override cap
- Insert the screwdriver into the override slot and press down firmly
- While holding the override down, press the brake pedal and move the shifter rearward to N
- If no electrical power: with override pressed and shifter held in override position, the mechanism should allow manual movement to N
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular cap on the left side of the shifter base, adjacent to the main shifter lever
With zero electrical power
With completely dead 12V battery, the shift-by-wire system will not function normally. You must have at least minimal 12V power to disengage the parking pawl electronically. If the car is completely dead and the override does not mechanically release the transmission, you will need to jump-start the 12V battery (located in trunk) or use a portable jump pack to provide enough power for the shifter system to respond.