🚨 1995 Rolls-Royce Corniche: Emergency Neutral
The 1995 Corniche IV (final year of Corniche IV) uses a traditional column-mounted shift lever with a mechanical shift-lock interlock controlled by the brake pedal switch.
✓ 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
- Ensure the parking brake is firmly engaged and the vehicle is on level ground or properly chocked
- Turn the ignition key to the 'ON' position (or as far as it will turn with a dead battery)
- Locate the shift-lock override release: look for a small access slot or cover on the column shroud near the base of the shift lever
- On the lower right side of the column shroud (approximately 4-5 o'clock position when facing the steering wheel), you should find a small plastic cap or slot - this may require removing a small trim piece
- Insert a small flathead screwdriver or the key into the override slot and press firmly while simultaneously moving the shift lever toward neutral
- If the override slot cannot be located, carefully remove the lower portion of the column shroud (typically secured by Phillips screws) to access the shift-lock solenoid mechanism directly
- Manually press or release the shift-lock mechanism while moving the shifter to neutral
- Once in neutral, the vehicle can be moved; reconnect battery or repair the brake-light switch before normal operation
Shift-lock override location
Small access slot or cap on the lower right side of the column shroud near the shift lever base; may require partial shroud removal to access the solenoid mechanism directly
With zero electrical power
With completely dead battery, the shift-lock override is mechanical - no electrical power is required to use the manual release. The override mechanism physically disengages the shift-lock pin. You may need to remove the lower column shroud to access the solenoid if the external access point is not visible.