Help please - Problem shifting out of park

[sgrimshaw]

I recently bought a 1998 Explorer and I have a problem.

Sometimes, the transmission will not shift out of Park.

I have done a search on the forums, and have found mention of a BOO switch that may be responsible for the problem.

The threads I found seem to imply that the problem occurs when the brake lights do not function. This is not the case with my vehicle, the brake lights are fine.

Am I making sense so far?

In short, my problem is that I can't shift out of Park, but my brake lights are working fine.

It takes some jiggling and (in my view) excessive force on the button to make the transmission stick finally move out of Park.

Any help would be most gratefully received.

Best regards,

Simon

 

[EBInterceptor]

I've experienced that before but only when parking on a steep driveway. Otherwise it shifted out fine. Does yours happen on hills too? Or just all the time?

 

[sgrimshaw]

Hi Mike,

It's happening on the flat, haven't had it long enough to park on a hill.

Once I've got it into drive and moving, if I then stop, keep my foot on the brake, I can shift into and out of Park no problem. Seems to be a problem when first starting off.

Simon