🚨 1991 Buick Roadmaster: Emergency Neutral
The 1991 Roadmaster uses a column-mounted shifter with a mechanical park lock system; early production may not have electronic shift interlock.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — details like the exact override location may vary by trim; verify visually before prying anything.
⚠️ 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
- Ensure the parking brake is firmly applied and the vehicle is on level ground or properly chocked
- Turn the ignition to the ACC or ON position if battery power is available
- If the shifter will not move from Park, look for a shift lock override access - check the lower steering column shroud area near the shifter lever for a small cap or opening
- If found, remove the cap and insert a small screwdriver or rigid tool to depress the override mechanism
- While holding the override, press the shifter button on the end of the stalk and move to Neutral
- If no override is present (earlier build), you may need to access the transmission linkage under the vehicle: locate the shift cable at the transmission and manually move the shift lever on the transmission to Neutral position
- For long-distance towing, disconnect the driveshaft or use a flatbed
Shift-lock override location
May be located in the lower column shroud near the shifter lever, but not all 1991 models have electronic shift interlock with override - check for access panel or cap
With zero electrical power
If the vehicle has mechanical-only park lock without electronic shift interlock, the shifter may move without power. If electronic shift interlock is present and battery is completely dead, the column-mounted override (if equipped) still works mechanically. If no override is accessible, you will need to access the transmission shift lever directly from underneath the vehicle to manually shift to Neutral. This requires getting under the vehicle and moving the external shift lever on the transmission.