Parked on a hill - Automatic transmission difficult to shift

[DanSanDiego]

Today I parked on a somewhat steep hill (driveway) because I am trying to diagnose a small leak and wanted to see if I can clear any fluids from on top of the stiffening plate and splash guard.

Anyway, when I started the car and tried to shift into gear it wouldn't shift. I tried again and it wouldn't go. Then I tried a third time and it went into reverse with some pressure.

Is that normal?
Could it mean that my transmission fluid is low?
(Is there a way to check the level of the transmission fluid without opening the fill plug?)

[Naz24]

Did you put your parking brake on when you parked on that hill?

[DanSanDiego]

No. I didn't have the parking brake on. I was sitting in the driver seat the whole time (10 minutes), waiting for any fluids on the stiffening plate to run off and checking my emails to stay productive.

[DanSanDiego]

After reading more regarding others transmission posts I feel better about my situation. I am not going to mess with the transmission at this time (72K miles) unless something else happens like difficulty getting it into gear on flat surfaces.

I'll focus on getting this small oil leak diagnosed and fixed (it may be residual oil anyway - that is what I am hoping - from the oil filter housing gasket change I did this past weekend.

[admranger]

Use your parking brake, then let off the brakes, then shift into park when you are on a hill. You are putting the weight of the X5 on the transmission locking pin (I'm sure there's a better name for it). You should have heard that thing on my '07 Chevy dually diesel -- CLANK! when I forgot to use the parking brake. Allison trans uses a pretty beefy pin.

[JCL]

The pin is a pawl.

You won't break the pawl by putting the weight of the vehicle on it, but you may damage the shifter linkage shifting back into gear if it is really tight.