Emergency Park Release - RWD Vehicles

If a vehicle requires recovery/transportation, the EPR (Emergency Park Release) mechanism is used to manually disengage the park lock and engage the transmission in neutral.

The EPR mechanism consists of an operating lever that is connected to the lever arm on the transmission by an upper and lower cable assembly.

The operating lever is installed in the floor console, under a trim panel in the floor console stowage compartment. The lever arm is attached to the transmission park release shaft.

One end of the operating lever is attached to a base by a hinge pin. A locking cylinder is installed in the other end of the operating lever, to secure the operating lever to the base. The operating lever is raised by pulling on a strap.

When operated, the EPR mechanism turns the transmission selector shaft to the neutral position.

To disengage the park lock:

• Open the stowage compartment lid.
• Remove the trim panel from left side of the stowage compartment.
• Rotate the locking cylinder of the emergency park release lever 90 degrees counterclockwise.
• Apply the footbrake, pull the operating lever upwards and ensure it locks in the vertical position.

Raising the operating lever causes the EPR cable to rotate the lever arm on the transmission, which disengages the parking pawl and engages neutral. This allows the vehicle to freewheel.

To re-engage the park lock:

• Hold the strap on the operating lever, release the latch and lower the operating lever to the horizontal position.
• Lock the operating lever by turning the locking cylinder 90 degrees clockwise.
• Install the trim panel.
• Close the stowage compartment lid.