🚨 2001 Honda Civic: Emergency Neutral
The 2001 Civic (seventh generation) has a floor-mounted console shifter with a button on the shifter handle and an electronically controlled shift-lock solenoid.
🧰 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
- Apply the parking brake
- Turn the ignition to the ON or ACC position if battery power is available
- Locate the shift-lock override: look for a small slot or cover on the console near the shifter base, typically on the right side or front of the shifter gate
- Remove any plastic cover by prying carefully with a flat screwdriver
- Insert a screwdriver or the metal portion of your key into the override slot and press down
- While holding the override down, press the button on the shifter and move the lever to Neutral
Shift-lock override location
Small slot near the shifter base on the center console, generally on the right side of the shifter gate area
With zero electrical power
If the battery is completely dead and the key will not turn in the ignition, forcefully rock the steering wheel back and forth while turning the key to release the steering lock. The shift-lock override is mechanical and does not require power to operate.