Gear shift

2001 Ford Escort, 110,000 miles with a 2.0L engine. About a month ago I was unable to get the gear shift out of park, I tried everything then remembered there was a bypass button next to the gear shift. It worked the car came out of park and shifted fine. I took the car in for service where they replaced a relay switch sensor, car worked fine. Now in the past week I am having the opposite problem, It is now difficult to put the car into park. I have to slam down on the top of the gear shift to get it into park. This is an automatic, any help is welcome.