We have a new SXT with the CVT auto tranny, and the thing got stuck in park yesterday. According to the manual, you can pop a little plug off the side of the console and hit a reset switch, and this allowed us to shift into drive over the weekend. You have to do it every time you take it out of park. The engine light is on as well, I assume this is related to the problem. The car is at the dealer now, I'll update on what they find out. Haven't heard of this problem before on these vehicles. We had the dealer put a hitch on the car and towed a little jon boat to the river, the tranny got stuck when we were sitting on the ramp. Good thing the wife read the manual! The boat is super light, I'm sure this didn't cause the problem but maybe they did something when they installed the wiring for the hitch.

 

Disclaimer: I am not a technician nor am I familiar enough with the CVT yet (just bought my SXT on Saturday!)

However, my 1992 Toyota Corolla had this same problem when one of the fuses was blown. With the fuse blown, I wasn't able to shift out of park without pressing the override button. However, replacing the fuse solved the problem instantly. It might be as simple as this -- although finding the right fuse can be a bit of a lengthy process. Add that to the fact that it may not actually be the problem at all.

Perhaps someone else can chime in if this is a plausible situation for the Caliber.

 

Thanks I'll call the service dept. at the dealer and have them check this. Maybe something in the wiring harness shorted and caused a fuse to blow. It could certainly be a possibility.

 

Called the service manager and let him know of the possibility of a blown fuse, fifteen minutes later he called back and said it was a fuse and they checked the hitch's wiring harness and it looked OK. So I think I might have a bad ground on my boat trailer.

 

Nice call NilObject!!!!!

It funny how something so small can cause such problems.

Later

Mike

 

This could prove to be some handy info for all of us.

 

One thing, you might need a small screwdriver to get the plug out of the side of the console. We tried a key and it wouldn't come out, I had to borrow a screwdriver from someone at the boat ramp to get it out. The plug is on the passenger side of the console, and you stick your finger in and push down (as I recall) on a little lever.

But chances are, you won't ever have to do this. Unless you get a hitch on your Caliber, and then have me wire your trailer. Hehe.

We're loving our Caliber so far by the way.

 

Yeah- a lot of cars have one of those manual over-ride/disengage buttons. They're kinda fun to play with when its not your car.

Definate good call on the fuses btw. So how did you Caliber feel while towing your boat? I know you said that it was just a small dinghy, but did you find the power to in ample supply still?

Did you use a mopar trailer hitch/tow bar?

 

It pulled my 14' jon boat/10hp motor just fine, we went along a route that was very hilly and it made it up those better than my little S10 pickup does. Everything but the ball is MOPAR, had the dealer install the works. Cost nearly $400. The towing limit is 1000lb. Its a Reese-style hitch that uses a 1.25" bar, the smaller of the two standard sizes. I found the ball and short bar that slides into the hitch, at Autozone.

We want to be able to take the Caliber on camping trips and will need a little extra room for our gear so I am going to get a small trailer.

 

Interesting post - I also just had to use the Manual override button as well. Wife was driving around today, said the car was acting sluggish, with some engine noise. I went out to take a look now, and car was stuck in Park. Reading the manual, hit the manual override, and whalla! Took the car around the block, looked good, but now it won't start any longer.... Gonna start troubleshooting with the battery, and move up from there. The fun part is when the talking to the wife, she says "oh it stated getting stuck in park on me last week...after a while it let up though...". [&:]