Getting out of park!

[Booke]

Is there some adjustment that can be had when trying to get out of P-ark?

It takes a long time with the brake depressed before it gives up and the button goes in. Does it work of some kind of vacuum from the servo?

 

[PHaTGRoB]

Hi Booke. The lever is locked in Park only when the engine is running. When the brake pedal is pressed, a spur off the brake light switch then de-energises the solenoid via the ECM and releases the lever. Check the operation of the brake lights and the output from the switch. Check that the lever can be taken out of Park with the engine switched off. If not, it may be a sticky solenoid. GRoB

 

[PHaTGRoB]

This problem and my last reply were bugging me, so I've just been out to check my Ex. It is locked in Park when in every key position other than ignition (with the engine not running) making my previous statement slightly wrong. It also seems to lock the button rather than the lever itself. However, mine had a similar problem to yours when I bought it and found that there was a dodgy connection on the brake light switch. After making the connection good, it's since only required the slightest touch on the brake pedal. GRoB.

 

[Booke]

Thanks, I will give this a look tomorrow.

 

[swetrid]

What year? If it is 2006-2007 ford has a new shifter for this concern. Ford also had a recall 09B11 for a shifter part.

 

[Booke]

She's a 97-98 model... I think tomorrow I will be armed with a can of WD-40 :

 

[swetrid]

On the older explorers sometimes the wires break at the brake light switch mounted on the brake pedal. Could also just be bad switch.

 

[Booke]

Yeah, I will check the continuity tomorrow... What a top 4x4 the Ex is

 

[Booke]

Tried to find the switch, but failed! I can hear a relay energizing when I press the brake pedal. Is this what drives the solinoid?

 

[PHaTGRoB]

Hi Booke. The brake light switch is mounted about half way up the brake pedal where the pedal is attached to the linkage going through the bulkhead. Don't know if other people's solenoids are audible but I can't hear it on mine; it seems to disengage silently. I also don't know the location of the solenoid on the floor change models - I've never had to find it! The Haynes manual only seems to mention the US column change system - not surprising, since 99.9999% of Ex's stayed over there! GRoB.

 

[Booke]

Thanks Grob,

Found it and gave it a good shake. Tried the button and no differance. |Did this again and had 5-in-a-row that worked well. When I finish work i will see if that was just a fluke

 

[BIGHVM]

Its the button at fault- wiggle it and it should go as you press it, needs stripping and oiling mate- had this happen in a Renault laguna 3 litre, was a real pig! till I sorted that out could never trust it to bloody fire up!

 

[Booke]

Looks like I will have to give that a go. Once it has gone in once, it will allow it to go on over and over. Give it 5-mins and it is back to squeezing it to death to get it in.

Thinking it makes a good immobiliser

 

[Bubble18-30]

I'm having the same problem with a sticking button (albeit the wife doesn't drive it as much now as she's not strong enough to wiggle it free!!) Has anyone dismantled the selector stick to grease it up and how did you it guys?

 

[chrisquelch]

if the problem is getting out of park it may be the park safety cable that runs from the steering column to the selector it has a release solenoid on it . you could disconnect it at the selector to see if it improves the problem.cheers chris

 

[PHaTGRoB]

Chris, what does the park safety cable do?

 

[chrisquelch]

hi it stops you being able to get the lever out off park without the foot brake on. cheers chris

 

[kevin p]

Did you make sure ALL of your brake lights are working properly like PHaTGRoB suggested?

 

[PHaTGRoB]

Chris. The bit I didn't understand was how's it tied in with the steering column? Is this a legacy of the column change? I thought the only interlock was direct with the brake switch. Just trying to understand it better since the Haynes manual only deals with column change rather than the floor shift we've got. Thanks. GRoB.

 

[chrisquelch]

its connected at the steering column so you cant get out off park unless the key is in the ignition switch it also stops you removing the key unless in park. if you disconnect it at the leaver (its the smaller cable of the two) you would then know if its that or the lever giving the problem. cheers chris