1996 explorer won't come out of park...any ideas?

[Sas1996]

I am a mail carrier, and I love my Explorer, it loves the dirt roads. Yesterday very time I stopped and put it in park it would take me a while of trying different things to get it in reverse or drive....Each time it took a little longer til I ended up having it towed home. Any ideas????

 

[SoNic67]

How did you tow it in Park??? If the wheels turned, you just damaged the transmission (parking pawl). You didn't give any information about your vehicle setup, there are many types of Explorer - 3 different transmissions, 3 different drivetrains (2WD, 4x4, AWD)... and that makes a difference.
If the shifter wasn't moving the first thing to check where the brake lights (switch) - no brake lights, no transmission release.

 

[Turdle]

The shifter lock is electrical, activated by the brake switch on the brake pedal. See if the switch may have been knocked loose.


Another thing to check is this


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219144&highlight=bolt+floor+shifter