I am in desprate need of something to lock my gear shift?

Question

I am in desperate need of something to lock my gear shift into place when it is in park and the vehical is not running, or it is running, and in park (for those days, when vehical needs warming up)
I have a 3 year old son, and a 5 year old daughter. In the past week, my 3 year old has thrown our van into neutral 3 times, and once into drive (I was waiting for him to put his bike away, and someone pulled up behind me, and I stepped out long enough to ask them if they could back up so I could back out and next thing I know, my van is taking off! I held onto the drivers door and ran beside it trying to keep up. My son laughed his little head off as he drove through our front yard-IN A TRAILER COURT-and hit a telephone pole) Hence the need for some sort of gear shift lock.

We have an older van which doesn't require you to push on the brake and shift gears, nor push a button to switch the gears. You simply pull the shifter.

I need to know what I can do! I am at a total loss as to what to do. My son also can get out of his carseat...any ideas there? I have tried duct taping the straps, but that still doesn't work.

Answer 1

NEVER NEVER LEAVE THE VEHICLE RUNNING WHEN CHILDREN ARE INSIDE.



Take the key out of the ignition and the van isn't going anywhere nor are the children going to shift gears with no key. See there your van came with a child safety device and you didn't even know it. It also keeps thieves from 'borrowing' you car with out you knowing about it.



discipline in some form is the answer to making your son stay in his car seat. that could very well be the answer to both your problems.

Answer 2

Your problem is most likely in the linkage cable and lever system that connects the shifter to the transmission. Due to the mechanical design and function of an automatic transmission it is very rare for it to actually get stuck in park. Have someone under the car to visually inspect the cable at the point where it attaches to the transmission, at the same time have someone move the shifter inside the car. A person with a good eye and some mechanical sense should be able to spot the problem ,if it is a bad cable. If not, my only other suggestion is to have it towed to a repair facility to be inspected and diagnosed my a qualified repair technician.Good luck.

Answer 3

Keep your doors locked. there is no solution for locking it except a parking brake. Please note older vehicles parking brake is operated by a cable to lock rear wheels, and maybe rusty. so it may not work, or stick locking rear brakes even when released.

Sounds like you have some resource full kids. Explain the danger's of them trying to drive a vehicle. As they could be seriously hurt. My kids know they are not allowed in the drivers seat at any time!

Answer 4

my wife says stop feeding them so much red drink and start belting the kids for acting up and causing destruction. someone is gonna get hurt if you dont show them who's boss. Stay up!

Answer 5

don't leave ankle biters unattended in a running vehicle they could kill some one