Manual Park Release 2021-2024 Models For Towing Or Other Reasons

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

jfoj

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Posts
121
Reaction score
64
Not sure about pre 2021 vehicles, but the 2021-2024 with the electronic button shifting cannot be manually tanke out of park from inside the drivers compartment. The parking pawl is /Elecrically and hydraylically controlled. So if the engine does not start and is not running and/or there is a problem with the transmission, you cannot get the transmission out of park.

If may be possibly with the 4 wheel drive versions to get the transfer case into a Neutral mode to roll the truck, but this will at least require battery power. Additionally, it is my understanding if the transmission parking pawl is manually overrided, then the electric parking brake will engage as a safety feature if the vehicle has battery power. I have also found info if the manual park override is used, it may store a transmission related code in the PCM?? A standard OBDII scan tool may be able to clear any codes/errors tha may be recorded, but I have not had a chance to walk through the complete process to see how the electric parking brake behaves and if any codes may be set if the PCM.

All of the above stated, the transmission park can be overridden with vice grips, an adjust wrench, an open end wrench or even with the GM special tool DT-52910 Manual Park Release Tool.

Depending on the situation, you may need to roll the vehicle to jump start, tow or for some other reason. The issue with manually overriding the parking pawl from under the car is SAFETY. The vehicle CAN AND WILL ROLL. YOU MUST DO THIS CAUTIOUSLY. Possibly even having wheel chocks or someone in the drivers seat to manally apply the brakes.

The tricky part is if the electric parking brake is automatically enabled, this may cause some problems depending on the vehicle electrical system. So this is another thing to think about and may need to be bypassed. Most of the bypass suggestions seem to suggest unplugging the parking brake connectors at the rear calipers, but there may be a fuse/relay that can be pulled rather than unplugging the emergancy brake wiring.

Here are a few good YouTube videos that give you some ideas of what you need to do to bypass the parking pawl in the transmission.




Additionally the GM special tool can be used. DT-52910 Manual Park Release Tool is about $300 depending on the sources you find it available from. I am planning to install this DT-52910 Manual Park Release Tool in my vehicle permemently and possibly route the cable into the driver compartment so the parking pawl can be release from the driver seat. We will see if this is possible. The DT_52910 comes with a 6 1/2 foot cable and you can easily remove the release end but would need about a 1/2" hole to pass the cable end into the driver compartment. A splt grommet could be used to seal the hole and protect the cable jacket. The tricky part would be somehow mounting the release handle as it is really not designed to be mounted, but it could be stored under the dash with some bread ties to be removed for access as needed. Will see how all this goes and if it works out as planned.

Update!!

So today while it was warmer out I installed the Manual Park Release tool in the truck. I should have put the truck up on ramps, but had a slight dip in the driveway where the truck was parked. I was able to crawl under and instal the braket on the transmission, this is pretty easy. The tricky part is some transmissions may have a threaded shaft, mine did not, so there is a locking collar with a 2.5mm hex head screw that clamps the collar on the shaft on the transmisson. The issue is the bracket that slides on the shaft floats and there is not a good way to make sure the bracket is tight the way things are designed. I installed 3 flat washers I had laying around to take up some of the space so the bracket was not wobbeling around as much. I think I need to find and add a wave washer to preload the bracket slightly, but the washers helped quite a bit.

Routed the cable up under the hood for the time being, it may stay there, not sure. So for now I just need to pop the hood and pull the loose end of the cable up so I have access to the cable.

I still need to come up with a full process on how to get the vehicle in Neutral without trigger the parking brake. I have some ideas other than unplugging the connectors on the rear calipers. I did a quick test and when the cable handle was pulled the transmission selector Neutral light was blinking and the dash display indicated N.

I did get a pop up message to Service Transmission on the dash display, it did seem to clean once I released the Park Release handle, but I will need to follow up and see if there are any permanent OBDII transmisson codes. I actually did have the SES/CEL/MIL light on after starting and driving the truck. 2 codes, P0700 Transmission Control Malfunction and P187E Transmission Park Valve Stuck Off. These are expected unless the battery is disconnected prior to using the Manual Park Release. The codes would also not be triggered if the ignition is not turned on. I turned the ignition on to see if I could get the parking brake to release, did not have luck, but need to try a few other things to see what happens. These codes and the SES/CEL/MIL should clear on their own after 10-20 start cycles, or should be able to be cleared with a standard OBDII scan tool or App and interface. I have not had a chance to clear the codes yet, probaby try to do this in the next few days.

At least I now have a Park Override installed in the truck if I need it for any reason.
 

Attachments

  • Park Release Tool.jpg
    Park Release Tool.jpg
    103.3 KB · Views: 6
  • Release Handle.jpg
    Release Handle.jpg
    431.8 KB · Views: 6
  • Transmission Connection.jpg
    Transmission Connection.jpg
    560.3 KB · Views: 6
  • Handle under hood 1.jpg
    Handle under hood 1.jpg
    150.7 KB · Views: 4
  • Handle outside of fender.jpg
    Handle outside of fender.jpg
    116.7 KB · Views: 4
Last edited:

2024 White Tahoe

TYF Newbie
Joined
Dec 30, 2024
Posts
8
Reaction score
12
Not sure about pre 2021 vehicles, but the 2021-2024 with the electronic button shifting cannot be manually tanke out of park from inside the drivers compartment. The parking pawl is /Elecrically and hydraylically controlled. So if the engine does not start and is not running and/or there is a problem with the transmission, you cannot get the transmission out of park.

If may be possibly with the 4 wheel drive versions to get the transfer case into a Neutral mode to roll the truck, but this will at least require battery power. Additionally, it is my understanding if the transmission parking pawl is manually overrided, then the electric parking brake will engage as a safety feature if the vehicle has battery power. I have also found info if the manual park override is used, it may store a transmission related code in the PCM?? A standard OBDII scan tool may be able to clear any codes/errors tha may be recorded, but I have not had a chance to walk through the complete process to see how the electric parking brake behaves and if any codes may be set if the PCM.

All of the above stated, the transmission park can be overridden with vice grips, an adjust wrench, an open end wrench or even with the GM special tool DT-52910 Manual Park Release Tool.

Depending on the situation, you may need to roll the vehicle to jump start, tow or for some other reason. The issue with manually overriding the parking pawl from under the car is SAFETY. The vehicle CAN AND WILL ROLL. YOU MUST DO THIS CAUTIOUSLY. Possibly even having wheel chocks or someone in the drivers seat to manally apply the brakes.

The tricky part is if the electric parking brake is automatically enabled, this may cause some problems depending on the vehicle electrical system. So this is another thing to think about and may need to be bypassed. Most of the bypass suggestions seem to suggest unplugging the parking brake connectors at the rear calipers, but there may be a fuse/relay that can be pulled rather than unplugging the emergancy brake wiring.

Here are a few good YouTube videos that give you some ideas of what you need to do to bypass the parking pawl in the transmission.




Additionally the GM special tool can be used. DT-52910 Manual Park Release Tool is about $300 depending on the sources you find it available from. I am planning to install this DT-52910 Manual Park Release Tool in my vehicle permemently and possibly route the cable into the driver compartment so the parking pawl can be release from the driver seat. We will see if this is possible. The DT_52910 comes with a 6 1/2 foot cable and you can easily remove the release end but would need about a 1/2" hole to pass the cable end into the driver compartment. A splt grommet could be used to seal the hole and protect the cable jacket. The tricky part would be somehow mounting the release handle as it is really not designed to be mounted, but it could be stored under the dash with some bread ties to be removed for access as needed. Will see how all this goes and if it works out as planned.


 
OP
OP
J

jfoj

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Posts
121
Reaction score
64
I had seen that bulletin, it is a bit dated (Dec 2021) as I can confirm at least thru 2024, this same tool and procedure works. While I have not looked closely at the 2025, I beleive they may have a column shifter as I recall seeing one in a picture from the drivers seat. But I have not physically seen, driven or spoken with anyone that has a 2025 model yet.
 

2024 White Tahoe

TYF Newbie
Joined
Dec 30, 2024
Posts
8
Reaction score
12
I had seen that bulletin, it is a bit dated (Dec 2021) as I can confirm at least thru 2024, this same tool and procedure works. While I have not looked closely at the 2025, I beleive they may have a column shifter as I recall seeing one in a picture from the drivers seat. But I have not physically seen, driven or spoken with anyone that has a 2025 model yet.



The 2025 Tahoe has an electronic, column shift lever. It is awkward, flimsy and not intuitive.

To shift to drive or reverse, you pull the lever toward you, then move it up or down to place the transmission in forward or reverse. To shift into park, you push a silver metal button on the end of the lever, which places the transmission in park and sounds a chime.
 
OP
OP
J

jfoj

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Posts
121
Reaction score
64
Sounds like the 2025 has more of a faux column shifter. An electronic mechanic shifter!

Anyone that has a 2025, sneak under the truck and check to see if the transmission is the same as the 2021-2024, I assume it is. If so, the same cable assembly should work and the same park release hacks should work.
 
OP
OP
J

jfoj

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Posts
121
Reaction score
64
Updated the first post with a few more pictures now that I have installed the Park Release cable in the truck. Routed the cable under the hood for now and still need to sort out a good way to keep the parking brake from coming on without disconnecting cables on the rear calipers. I have some ideas, just need to test them out.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,960
Posts
1,877,282
Members
97,878
Latest member
bowtie88

Latest posts

Top