Chrysler Repair: 05 Pacifica Stuck In Park! Please help!, pawl, drive mode

Question
I drove my car to work yesterday, and it was fine. Never had any problems at all with it. Until I came out after work. I got in and started the car fine, pressed the brake and tried to shift into reverse. It would not come out of park at all. Tried to rock the car a little to see if it was just stuck, didnt work. The car is on a flat surface, no incline. Called the dealership and their answer was to bring it in... I cant move it! A friend said often its a cable thats broken. Tried to find the so called cable, but could not locate it. Any ideas? Please help! I am a mother of 5 and need my car back!

Answer
Hi Shannyn,
If the cable were broken, the gear shift lever would move freely and would not be locked in Park. So I believe that the lock-up mechanism in the transmission is wedged tightly (the 'pawl' is wedged into the teeth of a gear, in otherwords). I would suggest getting a helper or two to push forward hard while you try to shift out park, and if that doesn't work then to push hard backward while you try and shift. And finally that you have the two helpers, one on the front and one back who would simultaneoualy try to rock the car while you try and shift out of park. I don't believe that such helpers can damage the parking pawl, if they act reasonably, and yet such pushing or rocking will indeed free the pawl. Other than that, you would want to tow the vehicle by lifting the front wheel off the ground which should allow it to be towed (unless it were in 4-wheel drive mode).
Roland