Thank you. :) The better drawing and the description of the logic behind the interlock - it helps a lot. The cold wave has passed and I can soon disassemble stuff to study how it works.
P.S. Found the drawing and: oh, there are two extra steel cables running out from there.
I wish they made simpler cars. But now I can probably figure out what is happening. :)
Over here, weather is currently nearing -30 C during nights. My MiEV started having problems with the gear shifter already at -15 C. At -20 C, the problems became intolerable - the shifter froze into the "P" position often and had to be pulled leftwards with great force.
I raised the left rear...
I would like to thank everyone who has commented here, since reading this thread enabled me to fix my MIEV-s P1A15 error with 2 x 1 MO resistors in series. I considered soldering in a fine-adjustment potentiometer, but refrained for now. If there is no further degradation, I hope I don't have to...