QuestionQUESTION: Last night my girlfriend and I attempted to go to the store. I have a 93 Taurus. After turning the car on, we noticed that we were not able to shift the car out of park. The shift lever won't move at all. I have removed the steering column covers to expose all of the pins and mechanics behind the steering wheel. My question is, am I checking in the right place and what parts do I need to look for?
I really appreciate any advise that you might have. I need this car to be moving no later than tomorrow so that I can get to work and to school.... Thank you very much in advance!!!
ANSWER: Hi Paul:
It sounds to me like the shift-brake release interlock is not working properly. This is fairly common on many Ford vehicles. The best way to check this system is to have someone see if the brake lights are working when you step on the brakes. Most likely you will not see them on when you depress the pedal. This indicates the common problem...the wire from the brake light switch or the brake light switch itself is broken.
When that happens, no power is sent to the brake lights OR to the shift release solenoid.
The repair is simple. Ford makes a brake light switch kit with new wires that can be spliced in at the brake pedal. Once this new switch and connector is in, your shifter should work fine.
In the meantime here's how you shift it without breaking anything. Turn the key to the 'unlock' position...the position just be for the lights come on. This will release your shifter. Shift it to Neutral, then start your car and be on your way.
Let me know if this does not cure your problem
Good luck
Doug
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Doug,
I just went and tried your suggestion. My brake lights are working. Also I tried just turning the key into the on position and shifting into neutral. That didn't work either. The shift lever has no movement in it at all. The car turns over just fine. It just won't shift out of park at all... Someone said it might be the steering column... I sincerely hope not!!
I'll be looking for your response.
Thank you in advance!!!
Paul
Answer
ford taurus column
Paul:
They are correct. The problem is in the steering column shift lock-release system. This is located on the bottom of the steering column and releases when you depress the brake pedal. Yours isn't releasing. As I said earlier, it's usually because of a brake switch problem, but if your lights are working then the problem is in the mechanism at the bottom of the column.
I just want to make sure I understand your symptoms one last time. From what I've read, you can rotate the key properly to all the positions, the shift lever has some spring action to it when you pull it towards you but you cannot lower it out of the 'park' position to any other gear. If all of that is correct, then the only way to shift it is to disconnect the shift cable from the column and pull the cable by hand until the column is repaired. That cable connection is under the dash down by the floor (on the upper side of the column).
I am enclosing a picture of a column out of the car displaying the shift cable connection.
Sorry for your situation, but maybe this willhelp you
Good luck
Doug
