# My mazda 2001 tribute is stuck in neutral **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 12, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050 "2011-08-12T12:06:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vala](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vala/32/2430_2.png) [@vala](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vala)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/1 "2011-08-12T12:06:11Z")
I was backing out of the driveway a day ago and my gear got stuck in neutral,can not move the gear shifter and just don’t know what to to do. This has never happened before. Any advice? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/2 "2011-08-12T12:09:48Z")
Is this a manual transmission or an automatic? How many miles on the odometer? Can you push the vehicle, or is it stuck in position? ---
**Author:** ![vala](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vala/32/2430_2.png) [@vala](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vala)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/3 "2011-08-12T13:41:29Z")
automatic, 180,987, i can let it drift back,but the gear shifter will not move for me to put in R.,P or D. ---
**Author:** ![vala](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vala/32/2430_2.png) [@vala](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vala)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/4 "2011-08-12T13:42:26Z")
ps thanks for replying im kinda new at this.my friend listens to the show every sat. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/5 "2011-08-12T13:53:15Z")
Have you tried using the Shift Lock release that is located somewhere on the center console? Normally, this is used when the shift lever can’t be moved out of the Park position, but it might do the trick in this case. If you don’t know where the Shift Lock release is located, your Owner’s Manual should provide instructions. Something else to check is whether your brake lights are working. Have someone stand behind the vehicle to check the lights while you push the brake pedal. If the lights aren’t working, that is a good indication that the brake light switch is bad. In addition to activating your brake lights, the brake light switch can play a role with both the shift lock mechanism and your cruise control. ---
**Author:** ![vala](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vala/32/2430_2.png) [@vala](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vala)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/6 "2011-08-12T14:05:41Z")
ok. thank you so much! I will try that. ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/7 "2011-08-12T18:11:58Z")
Also check the brake fluid level. It may be low, mimicking the faulty brake light switch. Some cars use the brake light switch, some use brake fluid pressure. When you have it running have there been any indicator lights on in instrument cluster? Brakes, battery, CEL? ---
**Author:** ![vala](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vala/32/2430_2.png) [@vala](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vala)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/8 "2011-08-13T15:44:57Z")
@ Vdc driver! It was the Shift Lock release. thank u so much, i did what u said you were right! godbless. you dont kow how much u have helped again thanks! ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/9 "2011-08-14T01:20:04Z")
Those of us who post advice in this forum are only too glad to be of help. I want to thank you for giving us feedback. In all too many cases, we never find out if our advice worked, or not. ---
**Author:** ![jduncan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jduncan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jduncan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-mazda-2001-tribute-is-stuck-in-neutral/67050/10 "2011-09-07T21:57:53Z")
Have the linkage cable under the vehicle checked as this happened to me but it was in park. Cost $70.00 to repair the cable.