The ign. key release cable has failed at the shifter on my '08 Versa. I had to remove the shift housing and manually pull the cable to release my key. What is the remidy for this problem

possible internal locking pawl stuck fault or adjustment required

ADJUSTMENTS
sourced from another forum

The park interlock cable is part of the brake/shift lever interlock system. Correct cable adjustment is important to proper interlock operation. The gear shift and park lock cables must both be correctly adjusted in order to shift out of PARK.

ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE

1. Remove floor console as necessary for access to the park lock cable.

2. Shift the transmission into the PARK position.

3. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Be sure ignition key cylinder is in the LOCK position. Cable will not adjust correctly in any other position.
NOTE: If the key will not turn to the LOCK position, pull up on the cable lock button and manually move the cable in and out until the key can be turned to the LOCK position.

4. Pull cable lock button up to release cable, if necessary.

5. Remove and discard the cable adjuster lock pin, if a new cable is being installed.

6. Ensure that the cable is free to self-adjust by pushing cable rearward and releasing.

7. Push lock button down until it snaps in place. The lock should be 1-2mm below the surface of the cylindrical portion of the cable

hi if your vw has ign. powr. when you put the ign on the solinod in the shifter should unlock. otherwise you may have to remove the cover atound the shifter, you should see a solinoid that you can manually release. im sure your tow guy should be able to deal with it. hope that helps

Ign Systems 8D - 19 Service manual '92 Dak
Disconnect neg battery cable Tilt column:Remove tilt lever (counterclockwise) Remove upper and lower covers (3 screws) Remove ign switch mounting screws (3) with torx bit Gently pull switch away from column Release two connector locks on the seven-terminal wiring connector. Remove connector from ign switch Release connector lock on the Key-in-switch and Halo Light four terminal connector. Remove connector from switch Remove key cylinder from switch as follows: With key inserted and ign switch in the LOCK position use small screwdriver to depress the key cylinder retaining pin flush w/ key cylinder surface Rotate the key clockwise to the OFF position The key cylinder should now be unseated from the ign switch assembly With key cylinder in unseated position (key cylinder bezel about 1/8 inch above ign switch halo light ring) Rotate key counterclockwise to LOCK position and remove key Remove key cylinder INSTALLATION; Install electrical connectors to switch making sure locking tabs are fully seated into connector Mount ign switch to column Shifter must be in PARK position Park-lock dowel pin on ign assy must engage with park-lock slider linkageVerify ign switch is in lock position (flag is parallel w/ ign switch terminals..off to the right) Apply dab of grease to flag and pin Position park-lock link and slider to mid-travel Position ign switch against lock housing face Be sure pin is inserted into park-lock link contour slot Tighten screws Assemble cover Tighten more screws Tilt column and install tilt lever (clockwise) instsall neg battery cable Gently insert key cylinder into ign switch asssy until it bottoms Insert key and gently push key (inward) and rotate clockwise to end of travel Rejoice in how much money you just saved yourself

Most newer models have a safety feature called
shift interlock. This prevents the key from being turned back
to the lock position if you forget to place the gear selector in park.
Depending on the model,
If it uses a cable, it may be sticking or needs adjusting.
If it uses an electrical solenoid. may be blown fuse or park switch.
Tap, shake, and pull up on the shifter and make sure it's in park.

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REMOVAL
1. Remove air cleaner and air intake hose assembly.
2. Remove center dash trim panel.
3. Remove center console cup holder assembly.
4. Remove floor console assembly.
5. Remove console side panels.
6. Remove Transmission Control Module ftMJ bracket.
1. Remove TCM.
8. Remove shifter cable from transaxle operating lever by removing nut and clip.
9. Remove shifter cable from shifter lever assembly by removing clip.
10. Remove shifter cable from shifter lever mechanism.
11. Remove cable from firewall grommet by removing grommet assembly nuts.
12. Remove gearshift cable from vehicle.
ADJUSTMENT
Lift and rotate the gearshift hand lever into the park (F9 gate position and remove the ignition
key. This confirms the shift lever is in the gated park (F9 position.
After confirming the park gate position. turn the ignition switch . If the starter will operate. the
park gate position is correct. Move the shift lever into the neutral (NJ position. If the starter
will operate in this position, the linkage is properly adjusted. If the starter fails to operate in
either position, linkage adjustment is required.
1. Park the vehicle on level ground and set the parking brake.
2. Place the gearshift lever in park (F9 gate position and remove key.
3. Loosen the cable adjustment screw at the transaxle operating lever.
4. Pull the transaxle operating lever fully forward to the park detent position.
5. Release the park brake, then rock the vehicle to assure it is in park lock. Reset the park
brake.
6. Tighten the cable adjustment screw to 8 Nm (10 inch Ibs.J. Gearshift cable should now be
properly adjusted.
1. Check adjustment by usinq the precedinq procedure.

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Kind Regards, Lee

Your Master Technician FixYa Expert

Sounds like your shifter assembly got in a bind. depending on what type of vehicle it is there should be a cable going from the brake pedal assembly to the shifter which will release it and allow you to shift. Also on most floor shift models there will be a manual override button on the shifter assembly itself you can push to release the shifter without have the key in the ignition.
The reason it won't start is because you need to be in neutral or park to do so. I would first look for the manual button but if not, your going to have to take off whatever is necassary to get to that brake cable and release it. hope this helps

A common problem with these cars is the shift cable, they do over time stretch and it is obviously a main place to start, before you go out and buy a cable you may want to pull yup that shifter one more time and unclip the cable from it, after doing so spray a lot of WD 40 into the shift cable housing as they tend to run dry and bind over time as well as get old and just wear out, by dooing this you may notice a need to not replace the cable as the lube of it seems to work and is quite a cheap fix, along with this being said please take a visual of the side cover to the transmission where this cable and linkage bond together to complete the shifter process...do you see anything obvious, like a loose connection /clip broken, etc...try removing the cable from the transmission and see if it acts the same, if so it is in the cable or shifter mechanismn, if not it may be inside the transmissions "parking pall" device...something an experienced transmission repairmen should look at.
Also take a look at the brake switch mounted above the brake padal, that releases the cable from park only with your foot on the brake... if this switch isn't working properly it will cause havoc on the release of the shift from park, get a test light with the key on be certain the switch is sending out power to the release switch by simply hand pushing the brake pedal on and off and watching the power should respond at the same time as you are pushing the switch(brake pedal) on/off, if not replace it.
Happy Motoring!!

shift lock located on your shifter by sticking a key or an small object into the hole to release the lock; Only used when need to shift out of gear if the battery is dead OR the brake sereniod switch goes bad and wont release the lock to the shifter when applying pressure to brake peddle to allow you to move shifter into gear. also state in owners manuel.

See a honda dealer or remove console to get to shifter solenoid. Also adjust cable to get key out of ign. We always would pull shifter back and push it foward firmly into park to get them to release key.

You either have problem with the shifter assy, or the shifter cable has come out of adjustment.
If you remove the shifter bezel and center console you will be able to see the shifter cable. There will be a white or black lift tab on the cable. Release the tab and and place shifter in park. If it still does not go into park that means that you will need a shifter assy. If it goes into park with the tab released you push the tab back down with it still in park.

That should take care of your problem.