Transmission will not shift out of park

CORONARIOT

MEMBER
1987 FORD E-SERIES VAN
7.5L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
96,000 MILES

Parked and an hour later went to leave and it won't shift out of park. Where is the manual override located so I can at least move it? I have brake lights so fuse is good.

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021 AT 2:04 PM

5 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

You can turn the key one position and it will release the shifter. Put it in neutral and you can start the engine.

The interlock system has an issue.

The upper collar contains the interlock for the shifter. I attached a picture of the 2 components for this operation.

Roy

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Thursday, March 25th, 2021 AT 5:16 AM

CORONARIOT

MEMBER
3 POSTS

No matter how the key is turned the shifter does not move. It will start by manually pushing actuator rod down but still will no shift from park.

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Thursday, March 25th, 2021 AT 6:13 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Okay, I would disconnect the shifter from the column to see if it is a linkage issue between the column and the transmission.

You could also disconnect it at the transmission and see if the shifter moves.

Roy

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Thursday, March 25th, 2021 AT 6:22 AM

CORONARIOT

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Loosening a nut on the linkage allows me to manually shift the transmission but shifter still does not move.

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Thursday, March 25th, 2021 AT 6:25 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Okay, then something failed in the steering column for the shifter. It is not external, it is internal.

The 2 upper collars have to come off to find the failure.

Roy