smj999smj wrote:... there should be a plastic cap on the shifter that you can pop out and get access to the shift lock over-ride button.
Mine A/T shifter has this knob also, but it does not pop-out, but rather needs to be depressed quite deeply (too deep for my fingers, need to use a pencil or something like) to be able to override shift lock from parking position manually.
Regarding hard-to-disengage from parking position...I don't know if your problem is related, but I know quite some owners with A/T transmission which don't ever use hand brake. They use PARK position instead, which is very wrong! Parking position does indeed brake vehicle, but it is NOT in any way meant to serve as BRAKE mechanism instead of handbrake.
The proper usage when vehicle is under up or down incline:
- stop the vehicle, probably holding foot brake
- engage hand brake
- release foot brake to let the vehicle move few inches until hand brake holds
- only then switch shifter to PARK position
Doing so you will not stress transmission components and shifter will move from parking position with ease. Disregarding this procedure, you will have difficulties moving shifter from parking position, because parking tension belt is under tension when vehicle weight is stressing it, so it's natural for shifter to disengage from park very hardly (...and not healthy).