I could not get it out of park

Tiny
BUD403
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 FORD F-150
  • 5.8L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Hi there, last night I broke my rear u-joint and when I went to tow the vehicle home I could not get it out of park, but the truck still rolled in park because the drive shaft was hanging touching the ground. Is my shifter stuck in park until I fix the u-joint or is there another problem that it could be?
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 AT 6:55 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
The shifter should not be stuck in park because of the drive shaft unless something is hitting or has damaged the linkage not allowing it to move. Check for damage there first. If that is good, make sure there is power to the brake lights. The park lock system will not release unless the brake light switch is getting power. If there is power to it and the lights are coming on, then I would suggest checking to make sure the park lock solenoid is getting power. Since the drive shaft dropped, chances are something has hit the linkage. Check that first to make sure nothing was damaged.
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
BUD403
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Okay, I checked the brake lights and they work. I have not checked the solenoid yet or the linkage, but it is a two piece drive shaft and only the back piece hit the ground, the front part never came loose, I will check the solenoid later after work.
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Did this happen while driving Grandma-Like?

Or was there some hell damage involved?

The Medic
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
BUD403
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
This is what happened. I was at a red light and went to gun it to pass someone and the u-joint exploded, I put my foot on the break and shifted to neutral and me and my buddy pushed the truck to the side of the road, I put it in park, but the truck kept rolling so I put on the e-brake. I came back later after work to tow the truck home with my friend and could not get it out of park, but the truck was still able to roll while in park because the drive shaft was hanging and now the shifter is stuck in park.
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
With no connection from the rear to the transmission, "park" can no longer "park" the rear differential/ wheels, hence it will roll in any position.

Can you move/ turn the drive-shaft on the transmission end of it?

Maybe doing this tweak will let the shifter turn loose.

Maybe you lucked out and did no damage to the transmission.

Back in the day, I kind of was a master of hell damage. Glad I grew out of it! Things got expensive. That sick churning stomach feeling is not felt quite as much as it used to be. I am now accused of being a Grandma Driver. See my link for one of my adventures!

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/jeep-grand-cherokee-1997-jeep-grand-cherokee--2

Keep us posted

The Medic
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
BUD403
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Lol. No I cannot turn the drive-shaft on the transmission end.
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Hey Bud,

Can you move the arm on the transmission? If not you must remove the transmission pan to see if what happened, it might have broken the parking pin or jammed it somehow.

Let us know what you found

Best, Ken
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
BUD403
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hi ken,

yes I just tried this earlier, I removed the cable at the transmission and was able to shift into every gear with the arm on the tranny
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Sounds as if the park pawl has failed in the transmission, was park selected with the car in motion? This is the most common cause for a broken park pawl.
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
BUD403
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thanks for all the help everyone. I found out the problem when I dropped the steering column, the switch on the solenoid was stuck I just hit it with my hand and now it works fine everytime
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
OK, thanks for the follow up post, always good to hear of a successful outcome, thank you for using 2CarPros and tell your friends, we are here for everyone and all makes and models.
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 AT 1:17 PM

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