🚨 1994 Dodge Colt: Emergency Neutral
The 1994 Dodge Colt (rebadged Mitsubishi Mirage) uses a floor-mounted console shifter with a button-release mechanism on the handle.
🧰 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
- Set the parking brake and chock the wheels
- Turn the ignition key to ACC or ON position if battery has any charge remaining
- Locate the shift lock override slot—it is a small rectangular opening typically covered by a removable plastic cap on the console trim directly forward or to the right of the shifter base
- Remove the cap by prying gently with a flat screwdriver or your fingernail
- Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver, key, or similar tool into the override slot
- Press down firmly on the override while simultaneously pressing the shifter button and moving the shifter to Neutral
- If the vehicle must be towed, keep the override depressed or leave the tool inserted while shifting
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular slot with removable cap on console trim near the shifter base, typically forward or to the right side
With zero electrical power
With zero electrical power, the shift lock override will still function mechanically. You do not need battery power to use the override—it is a purely mechanical release. The ignition does not need to be in any particular position when using the override with a dead battery.