transmission won't go into park

[bicsitech]

Hi all, I'm new here, been checking out your forum for the last few days and decided the only way to get the help I need is to ask. So, here i go.
I just picked up a 2003 explorer. Its very high optioned. It has the 4.6 v8, and 4x4, with only 77,000 miles. The PO, didn't take very good care of it and it had a number of issues,(reason #1 I only paid 2k for it). Most of the issues I found solutions for right here in these forums, and I spent 6 hours under it today to fix a few of them, (oil leak at the oil filter housing, bad aftermarket IAC someone put in, and power steering leak )

Now onto my problem, this truck will not go into park. I found a lot of threads about explorers not going into park, and it being 2 little torx screws under the dash. Well I think that must be earlier years because my explorer looks nothing like those ones under the dash.
What I have found so far is, the colum shifter goes into park, it locks and the key works. It's as if everything is fine, but when its in park it rolls. Today while changing the oil filter housing gasket I decided to craw back in there and see if I could find the problem. We'll I found that the cable end (plastic thing that snaps over a little ball joint) was off the ball joint and the plast if cable end has a slot the the ball joint kin da fits inot so it still mover the **** lever, (just wit a ltitle play). Well I decided to snap the plastic cable end back over the bull joint but couldn't line the plastic cable end socket up with the shift lever enough to get it on. So I put the transmission in reverse and was able to snap the cable end over the ball joint.
After doing that i almost couldnt get the colum shifter all the way into park, I had to force it into the lock position. Well I dropped the truck off the Jacks and let off the parking brake, and sure enough it started to roll. So I jacked it back up took the cable end back off the joint and got it to where it can move through the transmission positions and that is how it sits.
Ok, what I know. It's for sure not the colum shifter assembly, and I'm thinking it probably isn't the cable. I tried to force the shift lever all the way into park but I didn't want to try and force it to much. So I think it's something in the transmission. Other then this problem the transmission shifts without issue.
That brings me to my question. Like I said I surched around but everything I found relating to a "going into park issue" was for years before 2003 and had problems with the cable in the colum. I am guessing the problem is in the transmission. I know my way around a garage, and have a well stocked tool box, so pulling the transmission out and apart is not an issue for me, but I have never worked on an auto transmission so I'm just not to sure what I should be looking for. Also I have read a lot that the transmission in this year have a tendency to have problems with shifting and will need the band's tightend, and solenoids changed so if I do need to pull it apart I'll probably just do it all then?
So, thats it. I guess I should say thanks to anyone that made it through my long ass post, and if anyone has any info at all please please please I would like to get this issue resolved asap.

Thanks everyone, look forward to learning everything there is to know.

 

[anthonymtz]

Hi all, I'm new here, been checking out your forum for the last few days and decided the only way to get the help I need is to ask. So, here i go.
I just picked up a 2003 explorer. Its very high optioned. It has the 4.6 v8, and 4x4, with only 77,000 miles. The PO, didn't take very good care of it and it had a number of issues,(reason #1 I only paid 2k for it). Most of the issues I found solutions for right here in these forums, and I spent 6 hours under it today to fix a few of them, (oil leak at the oil filter housing, bad aftermarket IAC someone put in, and power steering leak )

Now onto my problem, this truck will not go into park. I found a lot of threads about explorers not going into park, and it being 2 little torx screws under the dash. Well I think that must be earlier years because my explorer looks nothing like those ones under the dash.
What I have found so far is, the colum shifter goes into park, it locks and the key works. It's as if everything is fine, but when its in park it rolls. Today while changing the oil filter housing gasket I decided to craw back in there and see if I could find the problem. We'll I found that the cable end (plastic thing that snaps over a little ball joint) was off the ball joint and the plast if cable end has a slot the the ball joint kin da fits inot so it still mover the **** lever, (just wit a ltitle play). Well I decided to snap the plastic cable end back over the bull joint but couldn't line the plastic cable end socket up with the shift lever enough to get it on. So I put the transmission in reverse and was able to snap the cable end over the ball joint.
After doing that i almost couldnt get the colum shifter all the way into park, I had to force it into the lock position. Well I dropped the truck off the Jacks and let off the parking brake, and sure enough it started to roll. So I jacked it back up took the cable end back off the joint and got it to where it can move through the transmission positions and that is how it sits.
Ok, what I know. It's for sure not the colum shifter assembly, and I'm thinking it probably isn't the cable. I tried to force the shift lever all the way into park but I didn't want to try and force it to much. So I think it's something in the transmission. Other then this problem the transmission shifts without issue.
That brings me to my question. Like I said I surched around but everything I found relating to a "going into park issue" was for years before 2003 and had problems with the cable in the colum. I am guessing the problem is in the transmission. I know my way around a garage, and have a well stocked tool box, so pulling the transmission out and apart is not an issue for me, but I have never worked on an auto transmission so I'm just not to sure what I should be looking for. Also I have read a lot that the transmission in this year have a tendency to have problems with shifting and will need the band's tightend, and solenoids changed so if I do need to pull it apart I'll probably just do it all then?
So, thats it. I guess I should say thanks to anyone that made it through my long ass post, and if anyone has any info at all please please please I would like to get this issue resolved asap.

Thanks everyone, look forward to learning everything there is to know.

Hey there! Welcome to the forum, we will try are best to help you out here! Now you said it wouldn't go into park? What I would suggest you do is manually put the transmission in park by getting a small hammer or rubber mallet and try to tap the part where the cable connects to, if I'm not mistaken these cables can be adjusted, I replaced a broken shift cable on a 98 silverado and I had to adjust it so it could go into gear correctly. Now if you can't manually put the transmission into park your issue is in the trans, I would suggest trying this first, also these vehicles do have alot of issues with the transmission's. They are basically a hit or miss, I suggest if the trans is still good drop the pan, fill with new fluid and add 2 bottles of Lucas stop slip, 9.88 at my walmart, and add it, it helps with wear and heat problems on them. Last but not least if you have a 3.73 LSD (limited slip deferential) CHANGE THE GEAR OIL! Mine had a very bad vibration when making any type of turning, make sure you use the 140w gear oil along with ford's friction modifier, it works miricals! Mine completely stopped the terrible grinding, good luck buddy, I hope this atleast helps you start somewhere!

 

[bicsitech]

Thanks for the replay anthony, I tried tapping it but didn't tap very hard, was a little worried I'd damage something. I guess if I have to hit it to hard it's probably already damaged. I really think the lever is going into park but the Trans is just not holding so ya there has got to be an issue in there. As for the fluid change and gear oil change, thanks for that info, it was my next step in getting all the pm done on this vehicle.

 

[anthonymtz]

Thanks for the replay anthony, I tried tapping it but didn't tap very hard, was a little worried I'd damage something. I guess if I have to hit it to hard it's probably already damaged. I really think the lever is going into park but the Trans is just not holding so ya there has got to be an issue in there. As for the fluid change and gear oil change, thanks for that info, it was my next step in getting all the pm done on this vehicle.

No problem buddy, yea you should probably try and tap it a but harder, I mean if it's broke it's broke LOL! I hope ypu can figure something out!

 

[bicsitech]

OK after much resurch I am thinking that the parking paw isn't engaging or its broken. My understanding is that it's in the tail section of the Trans and can be accessed by just removing the rear drive shaft and tail section. Does anyone know if I should get any gaskets or o-rings before tackling this? I'm using the Explorer as is, so I don't want to get started then have to wait on parts I don't have or can't get. Thanks

 

[Dean Cochrun]

Thanks for the replay anthony, I tried tapping it but didn't tap very hard, was a little worried I'd damage something. I guess if I have to hit it to hard it's probably already damaged. I really think the lever is going into park but the Trans is just not holding so ya there has got to be an issue in there. As for the fluid change and gear oil change, thanks for that info, it was my next step in getting all the pm done on this vehicle.

Did you ever fix the problem? I just bought a 2000 Explorer with the same problem