Selector lever apparatus for vehicle

A selector lever apparatus for a vehicle having an automatic transmission, said apparatus comprising:

• a selector lever shiftable to a plurality of mode setting positions including a parking position wherein an output shaft of said automatic transmission is fixed;
• a detent plate arranged near said selector lever and having a plurality of engaging portions corresponding to the plurality of mode setting positions of said selector lever, said selector lever having a detent pin movable between a first position wherein said detent pin is engaged with one of the engaging portions of the detent plate so as to hold the selector lever at the corresponding mode setting position and a second position wherein said detent pin is disengaged from said engaging portion so as to allow shifting of the selector lever;
• a lock cam having a first engaging portion with which said detent pin is engaged when said selector lever is set at the parking position, for interlocking with movement of the detent pin while said selector lever is set at the parking position so that the lock cam is moved to a lock position when the detent pin is moved to the first position, and moved to a release position when the detent pin is moved to the second position;
• and
• a selector lever lock mechanism for locking said lock cam at the lock position so as to restrict movement of said detent pin when a brake pedal is not depressed while said lock cam is located at the lock position, and for releasing said lock cam from the lock position when said brake pedal is depressed.