2005 Explorer won't shift from park

[bbeck13]

Hi all,

I know this has been discussed several times in the past, but I'm having a similar problem with what I believe to be the brake shift interlock on my '05 Explorer preventing me from shifting out of park. None of the solutions I've seen in the forums have worked for me. Here's what I know that seems relevant from reading through other posts:

1) I tried to use the manual override, I may have done this incorrectly though. It was not obvious whether or not the screwdriver was pressing the button or not...I couldn't even see a button. Here is a photo of what I'm looking at, does this seem right? http://picasaweb.google.com/bmbeck/Misc/photo?authkey=CdT7SfhfXtc#5214395768439209986

2) I tried to put the ignition into unlock mode (one click before the accessories power on) and then shift from park to neutral. I had no luck with this regardless of whether or not my foot was on the brake.

3) My brake lights DO work, same with headlights as well as my turn indicator lights.

4) I regularly park on an incline with the parking brake engaged.

5) I have not done anything with my fuses. Later today when I have another vehicle available to me I will try to replace fuse 26 [7.5 amp] (Reverse park aid, Brake shift interlock, IVD switch) but I'm unsure whether or not that's the problem since the manual override didn't seem to work.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions of what I should try next?


Thanks,
Brandon

 

[bbeck13]

Just a couple of things to add...

1) I'm getting an oil low pressure warning when the ignition is turned on. This was intermittent earlier but seems much more consistent now.

2) I swapped fuse 25 and 26 (both are 7.5 amps) to see if perhaps the fuse was bad. Didn't get better, still can't shift out of park. So either I just blew a second fuse or the fuse wasn't bad to begin with.

3) The vehicle is also really low on fuel. Doubt this has anything to do with it, but mentioning it for completeness.

4) The engine isn't starting. It almost starts, but doesn't quite catch. This may because of the low fuel or the oil pressure, not sure. Hopefully this isn't a 2nd independent problem brewing.

Any suggestions or ideas?


Thanks,
Brandon

 

[bbeck13]

Few more things to add...

1) Bought some replacement fuses today just to make sure I had known good ones. No change with the new fuse.

2) Added about 5 gallons of gasoline, that fixed the won't start problem. Still says low oil pressure sometimes though. When I run a system diagnostic after starting it up, it says oil pressure ok though.

3) Still can't get it out of park though and the manual override still doesn't seem to be working.


Thanks,
Brandon

 

[fyrfyter612]

Some suggestions

Ford has had some problems with the oil pressure sensing swith on the engines. If you don't hear any engine noise I'm willing to bet that's the problem. There was even a TSB out about it although I forget what models and years it covered. If your looking for a way to get it out of park to get it to a repair shop there's a pretty simple but somewhat dangerous way you can do it. I would definately get a second person and something to chock the wheels real good before you do this. Have one person sit inside the truck with their foot on the brake and turn the key to the run position but don't start it. The other person can lay underneath the truck and pop the shift cable off the transmission lever. Then move the lever on the trans 2 positions to neutral. Then get out from under the truck and have the person inside start it...then you should be able to shift it into drive to get it somewhere for repair. Once there shift back into neutral and shut the truck off and hold the brake and chock the wheels again and lay underneath it and move the lever back into park or just leave it there in neutral with the parking brake on but make sure you let them know at the repair shop the cable is disconnected from the trans and it's in neutral.

 

[shadowless127]

get the the Low Oil Pressure warning in my message center if the vehicle is int he run position but the engine is off but it goes away when i turn the engine on and the gauge gives me a read out....should i worry about this?

 

[PCPoppa]

2005 Sport Trac 4WD Shift Interlock Problem

I know this is an old post and an old truck, but I can't figure out the shift interlock bypass on my truck. There is a hole under the steering column, but couldn't do anything thru it. I took off the shroud and above the hole, all I found was a 6-wire connector (black case with small silver dot on bottom). Dot does not seem to depress. Is it a switch or perhaps a contact to touch with ground or 12V?
Any one seen anything like this or know anything about it?
Help!
Thanks.
Gordon

 

[mbrando1994]

Something simple that could resolve a 'less serious' adaption of this issue would be to do some investigating into the brake light sensor which is attached to the brake pedal in the footwell. Obviously if you're getting low oil pressure warnings, etc. this may be a more serious issue.

The brake light sensor tells the computer when the brake pedal is depressed, and safety features (if applicable) usually will not allow the shifter out of park unless the brake pedal is depressed. My sensor sometimes acts up in the winter (cold I guess?). This is often overlooked and just thought I'd add.

Best wishes,
Brandon

 

[PCPoppa]

Thanks.
At times my Sport Trac is hard to shift out of Park with key on and brake pressed. I was told by my service shop that there is an override for the brake-shift interlock. I researched this online and found several posts on Explorers having a hole on the bottom of the steering column that provides access to an override. There were even a couple of quotes from the Explorer owners manual on how to do this.
After I took it apart and found that there was no override there, I did what I should have done first: looked at my owners manual. Turns out that at least on my truck (2005 Explorer Sport Trac 4WD) the interlock is overridden by turning the key to off; the truck can then be shifted.
Good to know.
Gordon