95 XLT Stuck in Park

[marragtop]

I have a 95 4.0 AT that I cannot get out of the park position. The ignition key works fine and the brake lights are working. I also jacked the back end off the ground to take any load off the trans, and it still won't budge. After doing some research, I'm leaning towards it being an interlock switch problem, or a trans shift cable problem. It's 25 degrees and the car in stuck on my front street, plus I don't get home until after dark (so I'm working in the dark in more than the literal sense). Any ideas on how to further trouble shoot this would be appreciated.

 

[remark123]

Turn the key to the Unlock position. (1st position forward after removing key)
Pull the gearshift lever into Neutral
Start your engine
Drive away!

 

[marragtop]

I suspect I tried this last night as I was continually moving the key in different positions and at that same time trying to move the shifter. I will attempt this again tonight. If this does work, does that point to a bad interlock? If it doesn't work, could the problem be shift cable related?

 

[remark123]

Yeah, if the shifter still doesn't respond, it is probably in the shift cable. It might be frozen, did you check for that? I've had weirder things happen, especially if the truck is subjected to slush that tends to work it's way into cables and such. If the approach I told you (quoted from my owner's manual) works, it is most likely something to do with the BTSI (brake transmission shift interlock).

Good luck

 

[remark123]

Any update?

 

[marragtop]

I tried moving the shifter with the key in the unlock position, and it didn't work. By the time I got home, it was already dark, so that's all I could try. I'm going to leave work early Friday (supposed to be 45 degress!) and jumper the interlock to see if that makes a difference. If that doesn't work, I'm going to disconnect the cable from the shift lever on the trans and see if I can put the trans in drive that way. If I can put the trans into drive, then I will know that the problem is cable related, and not trans related.

 

[rego]

Just had the same problem. Did you find the fix?