[aver3]

My 2016 Colorado finally killed its original battery. In most (every?) other vehicles I've owned that had the automatic transmission shifter on the floor, there was a little plastic clip that you would pull out of the console to reach the switch that lets you put the transmission in neutral so you can tow it or push it. I've looked just about everywhere for this switch in the Colorado. I can't find my owner's manual, but I tried searching the manual in the Chevy app without any luck. I did find a Youtube video about the location of the switch on many Fords, but that was only useful for finding it on my wife's Mustang.

I was able to turn the key to get the truck into neutral and push it back in the driveway so I could get the Mustang out. I tried it again later in the evening when I wanted to push the truck farther up the driveway, but it didn't work.

 

[ARCowboy]

My 2016 Colorado finally killed its original battery. In most (every?) other vehicles I've owned that had the automatic transmission shifter on the floor, there was a little plastic clip that you would pull out of the console to reach the switch that lets you put the transmission in neutral so you can tow it or push it. I've looked just about everywhere for this switch in the Colorado. I can't find my owner's manual, but I tried searching the manual in the Chevy app without any luck. I did find a Youtube video about the location of the switch on many Fords, but that was only useful for finding it on my wife's Mustang.

I was able to turn the key to get the truck into neutral and push it back in the driveway so I could get the Mustang out. I tried it again later in the evening when I wanted to push the truck farther up the driveway, but it didn't work.

Hm, not sure there is a transmission override. The manual explicitly states 2wd vehicles cannot be flat towed or front wheel dolly towed, only 4x4 that can put the transfer case into neutral.

 

[aver3]

I'm not talking about flat towing. If your battery dies and you have to get it onto a flatbed tow truck, how would you do it? If it won't go into neutral, you can't move the vehicle without lifting the rear wheels. Something like this:

, although on my older cars, it was more obvious. I realize nobody wants to see an unsightly cover now, so automakers have to get more creative with hiding them, like this.

Here is another:

For some reason, I can't find the Colorado, but I can find many other examples.

 

[Gerry Thornhough]

 

[16WhiteColly]

 

[Gerry Thornhough]

First LMAO!

 

[6speedTi]

After watching the video and thinking about it even though the linkage can be removed from the shifter and manually positioned into neutral for towing will the transmission release from "PARK" without electrical power? Remember that modern transmissions are electronically controlled. If we think old school then yes it will release. This ain't old school technology. Another thought was if the battery is dead or discharged enough where it can not release the shifter lock why not jump the battery from the tow truck or from a portable battery booster? Trying to keep it simple in a complicated technological world.

 

[16WhiteColly]

BINGO!! What do I win?

CEO job at Twitter!

 

[Gerry Thornhough]

After watching the video and thinking about it even though the linkage can be removed from the shifter and manually positioned into neutral for towing will the transmission release from "PARK" without electrical power? Remember that modern transmissions are electronically controlled. If we think old school then yes it will release. This ain't old school technology. Another thought was if the battery is dead or discharged enough where it can not release the shifter lock why not jump the battery from the tow truck or from a portable battery booster? Trying to keep it simple in a complicated technological world.

The transmission gear shift lever and parking pawl are mechanically controlled by the shift linkage cable, so the output shaft of the transmission will be free to turn whether there is battery power or not.

 

[6speedTi]

The transmission gear shift lever and parking pawl are mechanically controlled by the shift linkage cable, so the output shaft of the transmission will be free to turn whether there is battery power or not.

Glad to hear. Someone decided to look into it or experienced it. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[aver3]

After watching the video and thinking about it even though the linkage can be removed from the shifter and manually positioned into neutral for towing will the transmission release from "PARK" without electrical power? Remember that modern transmissions are electronically controlled. If we think old school then yes it will release. This ain't old school technology. Another thought was if the battery is dead or discharged enough where it can not release the shifter lock why not jump the battery from the tow truck or from a portable battery booster? Trying to keep it simple in a complicated technological world.

I forgot about this post, and I missed a few of the replies. I actually tried to jump the battery from a portable battery booster. Apparently, the battery was so dead that the booster didn't even recognize that it was attached to a battery, even when I tried to use the override to force it to charge. I put a new battery in, and everything was fine. I should have tried to boost the battery instead of worrying about getting it into neutral and killing it completely. The high front fenders and all of the crap attached to the top of the battery made it more trouble than I am used to when changing a battery. I'm glad I found a video that suggested using a screwdriver to apply pressure to the plastic tray that snaps to the top of the battery.