Transmission will not shift out of park

Tiny
RCHOBAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 MERCURY SABLE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
I have replaced the brake light switch, but still no brake lights and it won't shift out of park. I check the brake light switch with a multimeter and found that there is no power going into the switch. The wiring looks good going from the brake light switch to wire connectors and the brake light bulbs look good. The fuses look good, can you tell me the number of the fuse that is associated with the brake light switch? Not sure where to go from here.
Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:02 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good afternoon,

I attached the wiring diagram for you to view.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Fuse 217 is what controls the power to the brake light switch. Check for power at the fuse with your voltmeter.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Roy
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM
Tiny
RCHOBAN
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The pictures you send above don't look anything like fuse box on my car listed above. I have attached 3 pictures below (2 are the same).I'm not sure which off the fuses are for the brake switch.
The problem is when I check the brake light switch I don't see any voltage, I unplug the brake light switch and then connect my multimeter to the positive and negative sides of the switch connector and no voltage, I would expect to see 12 volts or more all the time on the positive side, is this correct or am I doing something wrong. Is it okay the way I'm using my multimeter for checking voltage.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 4:34 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
I attached a picture and the location of the fuse block.

Roy
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
RCHOBAN
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Roy, the fuse box you show above does not match the fuse box I'm seeing on my car. There are pictures above of what my fuse boxes looks like, I just need to know what fuse controls the brake light switch.

And if you can answer the following question:

The problem is when I check the brake light switch I don't see any voltage, I unplug the brake light switch and then connect my multimeter to the positive and negative sides of the switch connector and no voltage, I would expect to see 12 volts or more all the time on the positive side, is this correct or am I doing something wrong. Is it okay the way I'm using my multimeter for checking voltage.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 2:04 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
You need 12 volts from the fuse number I listed that goes to the switch in order for the switch and the interlock system to work.

Can you give me the VIN number so I can check from the VIN?

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 4:23 AM
Tiny
RCHOBAN
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
VIN number: 1mehm55s11g601732.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:37 AM
Tiny
RCHOBAN
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
How does the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock Device work with the Brake light switch? Still looking for the fuse that controls the brake light switch. I think my problem is that I'm not getting power to the brake light switch, but the wiring looks good.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
I agree. The diagram I sent you identifies te number fuse for the switch.

Once you get power to the switch and you step on the brake, the interlock solenoid will work and release the shifter.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:47 AM
Tiny
RCHOBAN
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
See the attached diagram of the passenger and engine compartment fuses. These diagrams look nothing like the diagram you sent me?
I still don't know what fuse to look at that controls the Brake light switch, I checked most of the fuse in the attached diagram that sounded like they had anything to do with the Brake light switch and they were all okay.
So my problem is still; not getting any power to the brake light switch, and I think this is causing my brake lights not to come on and not being able to shift out of park.

Summary:
New brake light switch installed
Fuses look good
Wiring for the Brake Light switch looks good

I am looking for suggestion on where to look next, if you can't help me, then please tell me, so I can move onto another site for help.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 12:06 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
I am doing my best to help you but you have not located the fuse box for the switch.

The fuse panel is located below and to the left of the steering wheel by the brake pedal. Remove the panel cover to access the fuses.

The picture I attached is the correct application for your car. Without being there, this is the best we can do. If you have your owners manual, chck for the location and a picture in the manual.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 12:16 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Transmission Park Content

VIEW MORE