🚨 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII: Emergency Neutral
The Phantom VII uses a traditional column-mounted shift lever with electronic shift-lock controlled by the brake pedal interlock.
✓ 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 a flat surface and set the parking brake firmly
- Turn the ignition to the 'ON' position (or ACC if battery has some charge)
- Locate the shift-lock override slot on the right side of the column shroud, near the base of the shift lever
- Remove the small plastic cover cap from the override slot (may require gently prying with a flat-head screwdriver or trim tool)
- Insert a flat-head screwdriver or the key blade into the override slot approximately 1 inch deep
- While holding the override pressed in, press the brake pedal and move the shift lever to Neutral
- If electrical power is available but shift-lock won't release, check the fuse for the shift interlock system (consult owner's manual for location)
- Once in Neutral, release the parking brake only when ready to move the vehicle
Shift-lock override location
Right side of the steering column shroud near the base of the shift lever, behind a small plastic cover cap
With zero electrical power
With completely dead battery, the shift-lock override will NOT work as the transmission park pawl is electronically controlled. The steering column will also lock. In this case, the vehicle must be flatbed towed - do NOT attempt to dolly tow. If you must move the vehicle short distances, you may need to access the transmission itself underneath the vehicle to manually release the park pawl (dealer/specialized technician procedure only).