Moving car with dead battery

[quirky1 1]

My car has a dead battery but it needs to be moved because of scheduled work on the parking area. The doors are unlocked and the transmission is in park. Is it possible to move the gear into neutral so that the car can be pushed around? How can this be done?

 

[Nigel 283]

Obviously the easiest way is to put a booster pack on the battery, turn the key on and shift to neutral.  The following link will tell you how to move the shifter without power.  
http://clubsmartcar.com/index.php?/topic/14335-get-home-fix-for-you-stuck-shifter/

 

[Willys 741]

I take it you have tried the obvious....? Turn key to on, push brake and move gear lever...?  And nothing works? Then I would move gear lever and try and bump it see if it moves....if not then you I would say need to charge battery or jump it using someone else's vehicle.....Hmmmm...?
Seeing as the gear select is an electric motor counting revolutions as it selects the gears, I expect it needs 12 volts to be able to move the gear selection to neutral....but that's just a guess.
 

[quirky1 1]

I don't think a booster would help. The battery has been dead for many years and is likely dead as a doornail. I'm embarrassed to say I haven't tried to move the shifter as it is but will do so when I get a chance. I just assumed nothing works in these cars without juice. With regard to the instructions...I'm not confident I can pull it off without breaking something.

 

As an aside, the one time the car had been jump started, it ran really rough and had to be towed to the dealership to have the computer reset. It was a pain.

 

Would the car work without fuss if I replaced the battery or is it more complicated because of the onboard computer?

 

[Mjolinor 85]

What is the car?

 

It should be OK once it has power and has gone through the transmission reteach. That should happen automatically but you can force it, instructions are in the owners manual.

[quirky1 1]

It's a 2009 Passion. The last time it was driven was about 10 years ago so the gas may also be an issue.

[Mjolinor 85]

 

2009 should certainly reteach, I have done mine many times.

 

There is a procedure to follow and I can't just remember it. One of those foot on brake, sit on finger, rotate three times, lock door etc etc and the gearbox goes off on its own deciding where the gears are as long as you have electricity to make it happen.

[Willys 741]

2 hours ago, quirky1 said:

It's a 2009 Passion. The last time it was driven was about 10 years ago so the gas may also be an issue.

You will have more issues imho than just a dead battery after 10 years sitting idle, I could be wrong?   Seized alternator, reteaching, actuator issues.....corroded grounds causing problems, and as you hinted at bad fuel...?   May I as, why has it sat for so long, if personal don't reply.....just curious is all...?

[quirky1 1]

The car was idled due to an unforeseen incident. I won't go into the details. Putting the car in storage is not really by choice.

 

The shifter won't budge as it is. Sounds like replacing the battery to solve the problem is a long shot. To compound the problem the tires are nearly flat. Under the circumstances, Perhaps if it's acceptable to do so, install a car cover and ask the painters to work around the car.

 

[Mjolinor 85]

Seems to me the best solution is to offer it anyone that wants it and let them sort it out.

 

You don't really seem to need it overmuch.