Suzuki: 1999 Suzuki Vitara Towing Question, 1999 suzuki vitara, suzuki vitara

Question
Hi there,  I have a vitara (automatic transmission) in my driveway that doesnt run and has to be moved.  I turned the key to put it in neutral but it wont go into gear. Is this a safety feature or something?  The engine cant turn over, so how do I get this into neutral?  Thanks so much.

Answer
Yes it's a safety feature.  It requires that the driver successfully find the brake pedal prior to putting the vehicle in gear. (There were "runaway vehicle" issues that were ALL traceable to inability to apply the brakes) Quite simply, "pilot error"

You will need to either get the battery charged so the electronic feature will allow you to place it in neutral, or remove both front and rear driveshafts.  If it's to be towed with the wheels off the ground (a flatbed tow) you dont have to remove the driveshafts.  Otherwise, towing with the wheels on the ground at highway speeds will severely damage the automatic transmission, with a repair cost of 1-2 thousand dollars.