🚨 1997 Land Rover Freelander: Emergency Neutral
The 1997 Freelander uses a traditional floor-mounted manual transmission lever or automatic transmission console lever depending on transmission option.
✓ Expert-verified by Chris Hackleman — 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
- For manual transmission: Pull the parking brake firmly, then simply move the gear lever to neutral position—no electrical interlock exists on manual transmissions.
- For automatic transmission: Ensure the vehicle is on a level surface and apply the parking brake if functional.
- If the battery has some charge, turn the ignition to ON position with the key.
- Press and hold the brake pedal, then move the shift lever to N.
- If the shifter will not release due to shift interlock failure, locate the shift lock override slot.
- On automatic models, look for a small cap or cover on the console near the base of the shifter—typically to the right or forward of the shifter base.
- Remove the cap and insert a screwdriver or similar tool into the override slot.
- Press down on the override mechanism while simultaneously moving the shifter to N.
- Once in Neutral, the vehicle can be moved or loaded onto a flatbed.
Shift-lock override location
For automatic transmission: small cap-covered slot near the shifter base on the console, typically to the right or forward of the lever
With zero electrical power
With completely dead battery, the automatic transmission shift lock override must be used as described above. For manual transmissions, no electrical power is needed—simply shift to neutral. If the automatic override cannot be accessed, the vehicle must be loaded onto a flatbed.