🚨 2010 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII: Emergency Neutral
The Phantom VII uses a traditional column-mounted gear selector stalk on the right side of the steering column with electronic shift-by-wire control.
✓ 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 vehicle is on level ground and the parking brake is firmly engaged
- Turn the ignition key to position II (ignition on) if you have any battery power available
- Locate the shift lock override slot on the lower right side of the column shroud near the base of the gear selector stalk
- Remove the small circular or rectangular cover cap (it may be labeled with a key symbol)
- Insert the emergency key blade or a small flat-blade screwdriver into the override slot
- Press and hold the override mechanism while moving the column stalk to Neutral
- If successful, the transmission will mechanically release into Neutral
- Keep foot pressure OFF the brake pedal while performing the override, as the brake interlock may prevent the release even with the override engaged
Shift-lock override location
Lower right side of the steering column shroud near the base of the selector stalk, behind a small cover cap
With zero electrical power
With zero electrical power, the column shift lock is mechanically engaged and very difficult to override. The mechanical override may require significant force and may not work without at least ignition-level power. Best practice is to jump-start the 12V battery (located in the trunk) or connect a battery maintainer to provide minimal power for the shift interlock solenoid. If absolutely no power is available, the vehicle will likely need to be winched onto a flatbed with wheels free-rolling.