1993 Explorer Stuck in Park

[phaustus]

Hi,

The title says it all.

I own a 1993 Ford Explorer (automatic) and I can't get the thing out of park.

Unfortunately, I don't think the problem is the brake light switch, as the brake lights turn on when the pedal is pressed.

I'm not too car savvy so any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Four0Sport]

does the vehicle start? does the steering wheel turn? just making sure its not something with the column lock

 

[phaustus]

yea, the car starts fine and the steering wheel moves as well.

 

[Four0Sport]

if i remember from some reading previously.. there is adjustment on the shift cable under the dash by the gear indicator. you might want to check that and also where the cable meets the linkage on the transmission.

 

[ParkerOfFrisco]

if the column seems fine bypass any other ideas and go right to the push pull linkage on the transmission, the part that connects to the lever on the bottom of transmission. id say try moving the lever, that will shift it(make sure your parking brake and someone is inside applying brakes lol) if nothing then take the linkage off the lever and move lever itself. anybody agree? i went through a similar problem.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! It could be a disconnected Z link in the transmission or it could have a faulty brake interlock solenoid in the steering column.

 

[Willard]

I'm not exactly sure of the problem, but I can tell you there is no brake interlock in the steering column of a first gen. However it is possible for something to be messed up with the ignition lock.

 

[Maniak]

Park is actually 2 things.. One is the parking prawl and the other is "no gear"..

If the parking prawl is stuck (not sure how it can do that) the truck won't roll when its turned off.

soo.. take it out of park and see if the truck will roll. If so the parking prawl is moving and it just not going into gear.

IIRC the rooster comb in the trans moves both the parking prawl and selects the gear. I've had the rooster comb come disconnected from the z-link a couple times.. luckily for us it got stuck in drive so I could at least still drive home.

~Mark

 

[phaustus]

I'm not exactly sure of the problem, but I can tell you there is no brake interlock in the steering column of a first gen. However it is possible for something to be messed up with the ignition lock.

Thanks for all the replies.

I was just wondering, if the brake interlock isn't in the steering column where is it? Under the dash? Or does it not have one? Hopefully this isn't a dumb question.

 

[Maniak]

1st gens don't have the brake interlock thingy..

~Mark

 

[Maniak]

After reareading this thread (after some sleep).. I think I misunderstood what is happening..

As I read it now.. You can't get the shifter to move out of the park position. If that is the case, The 1st step is with the truck off, e-brake on, wheel chocked etc to disconnect the linkage on the side of the trans from the trans. Now see if you can move the linkage on the side of the trans. If so, you know its not in the trans, which is good.. Next is to check the linkage under the hood. As you move the shifter its moving the linkage right at the firewall, under the brake booster. It may be a little hard to see/get to unless you remove the inner fenderwell and tire from the drivers side.

~Mark

 

[coheed]

After reareading this thread (after some sleep).. I think I misunderstood what is happening..

As I read it now.. You can't get the shifter to move out of the park position. If that is the case, The 1st step is with the truck off, e-brake on, wheel chocked etc to disconnect the linkage on the side of the trans from the trans. Now see if you can move the linkage on the side of the trans. If so, you know its not in the trans, which is good.. Next is to check the linkage under the hood. As you move the shifter its moving the linkage right at the firewall, under the brake booster. It may be a little hard to see/get to unless you remove the inner fenderwell and tire from the drivers side.

~Mark

Maniak, I'm having a similar problem, can you please see my thread here