🚨 2013 Toyota Vitz: Emergency Neutral
The 2013 Vitz (XP130 generation) features a traditional floor-mounted console shifter with a push-button on the handle to release the lever for gear selection.
✓ 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 level surface and set the parking brake
- Locate the shift-lock override cover: on the 2013 Vitz console, this is a small cap located near the base of the shifter lever, usually on the left side of the shifter gate
- Use a small flathead screwdriver or the key to carefully pry off the override cover
- Insert the screwdriver or key into the shift-lock override slot and press down (this mechanically disengages the shift-lock mechanism)
- While holding the override down, press the button on the shifter handle and move the lever from P to N
- Remove the tool from the override slot once the shifter is in Neutral
- Release the parking brake to allow the vehicle to roll or be towed
Shift-lock override location
Under a small removable cap on the left side of the center console shifter gate, directly adjacent to the shifter lever base (within 1-2 inches of the lever).
With zero electrical power
If the 12V battery is dead, the electronic shift-lock and button interlock will not work. The mechanical shift-lock override allows you to move the shifter without any electrical power: remove the cap, insert a tool into the override slot, press down to release the lock pawl, and manually shift to N. This is a purely mechanical bypass.