1997 Explorer 5.0L won't go into Park!

Jemo · 04-05-2009, 07:43 PM

Everything was working fine until one day I fired er' up went forward about 15 feet then backed up another 15 feet and it wouldn't shift back into park. I have about 225k miles all the gears work fine. It will still drive. Just have no clue what it could be. I am really leaning toward the steering column/shifter cause it doesn't feel the same now. Open for any suggestions, I'm gonna have to do this myself so any tips/tricks would be much appreciated!

desertbum8 · 04-05-2009, 10:23 PM

First place to check would be on the tranny where the shift linkage is. There should be a little white clip holding it in place so that when you shift it doesn't adjust. Make sure that is there and secure. Also make sure the ball-stud is still attached firmly. Is it not shifting into any other gears now or JUST not park? If that doesn't work then you might have to take apart the steering column and look around in there. Also is your exploder throwing any OBD codes?

Adrenolin · 04-06-2009, 12:01 AM

I'm not on these forums often however its funny you bring this up. My father has a 2000 and for the past year he's been fighting this. Only in Park! Sometimes it'll pop right in but most of the time he's fighting it.

Anyways... It was the shifter on the column. He just fixed it on Friday. His shifter has been rather floppy and there are 2 screws behind the dash which were loose. He said he was able to tighten them a full turn.. once he was able to reach them. He didn't have to disassemble the column. This tightened up the shifter and it pops right into Park now.

I don't know exactly what screws he tightened only that he said they were behind the cluster and on the column. Hope this helps.

Jemo · 04-06-2009, 06:24 AM

Yeah mine just wont go into park. I'll have to give those a try today and see what I can come up with.

desertbum8 · 04-06-2009, 05:02 PM

Good luck! Let me know what happens.

montegun · 04-07-2009, 08:55 PM

wedge yourself underneath and check the two bolts like the ones in this picture thay are a t-30 torx and are very common for them to come loose

here is the link to the thread with some info mine used to come loose all the time so i dabbed a lil blue loctite and its been almost a year now

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=228608

*Sams01XplrSprt* · 04-07-2009, 09:14 PM

that sux ur x wont go into park

04-05-2009, 07:43 PM	#1
Jemo Wannabe Elite Explorer Traverse City, Michigan 97 xlt Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	1997 Explorer 5.0L won't go into Park! Everything was working fine until one day I fired er' up went forward about 15 feet then backed up another 15 feet and it wouldn't shift back into park. I have about 225k miles all the gears work fine. It will still drive. Just have no clue what it could be. I am really leaning toward the steering column/shifter cause it doesn't feel the same now. Open for any suggestions, I'm gonna have to do this myself so any tips/tricks would be much appreciated!

04-06-2009, 12:01 AM	#3
Adrenolin Wannabe Elite Explorer Delaware 2003 Explorer Sport XLT Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 28 Vehicle Specs	I'm not on these forums often however its funny you bring this up. My father has a 2000 and for the past year he's been fighting this. Only in Park! Sometimes it'll pop right in but most of the time he's fighting it. Anyways... It was the shifter on the column. He just fixed it on Friday. His shifter has been rather floppy and there are 2 screws behind the dash which were loose. He said he was able to tighten them a full turn.. once he was able to reach them. He didn't have to disassemble the column. This tightened up the shifter and it pops right into Park now. I don't know exactly what screws he tightened only that he said they were behind the cluster and on the column. Hope this helps. __________________ 2003 Ford Explorer Sport XLT V6 4.0L FI SOHC 4x4 Security Keyless Keypad Code Location 2003 Explorer Sport XLT

04-07-2009, 08:55 PM	#6
montegun Wannabe Elite Explorer philadelphia 2001 explorer sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 120 Vehicle Specs	wedge yourself underneath and check the two bolts like the ones in this picture thay are a t-30 torx and are very common for them to come loose here is the link to the thread with some info mine used to come loose all the time so i dabbed a lil blue loctite and its been almost a year now http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=228608 Attached Images __________________ 01 EXPLORER SPORT KENWOOD 7" DOUBLE DIN DVD 2-MTX 12" JACKHAMMERS 3-MTX JH1200D JACKHAMMER AMPS MTX 6X8'S ALL THE WAY AROUND 8"EV IN FACTORY SUB ENCLOSURE

04-07-2009, 09:14 PM	#7
Sams01XplrSprt Southern Cali Explorer Newport Beach California & Bay Area California 2001 Sport (sold) Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 15,633 Vehicle Specs	that sux ur x wont go into park __________________ 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 4.0 sohc engine. Mods include: dual 40 series flowmasters & high flow k&n air filter & removed silencer & yellow fog lights (sold for $1,800) as of 2-26-12

04-05-2009, 10:23 PM	#2
desertbum8 Wannabe Elite Explorer Oceanside, CA '97 XLT Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 61 Vehicle Specs	First place to check would be on the tranny where the shift linkage is. There should be a little white clip holding it in place so that when you shift it doesn't adjust. Make sure that is there and secure. Also make sure the ball-stud is still attached firmly. Is it not shifting into any other gears now or JUST not park? If that doesn't work then you might have to take apart the steering column and look around in there. Also is your exploder throwing any OBD codes?

04-06-2009, 06:24 AM	#4
Jemo Wannabe Elite Explorer Traverse City, Michigan 97 xlt Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Yeah mine just wont go into park. I'll have to give those a try today and see what I can come up with.

04-06-2009, 05:02 PM	#5
desertbum8 Wannabe Elite Explorer Oceanside, CA '97 XLT Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 61 Vehicle Specs	Good luck! Let me know what happens.