Stick shifter stuck in Park on 98 Stang

[F15ace]

I have a 98 Stang automatic 4.6 V6When I press the button on the stick shift with foot on brake, the shifter will not come out of park. I had to remove the console so that I can manually disengage the lever to get the shifter into gear. This is intermittent , but happens probably 75% of the time. I think the shift button is not allowing the stick to release so that I can get into gear. I also have this problem occasionally when I try to go from gears to park also. Could this be a solenoid and where would this solenoid be located? Any help would be appreciated

This ad is not displayed to registered or logged-in members. Register your free account today and become a member on Mustang Forums!

[Jazzer The Cat]

I was about to say the selonoid as well, untill you say trouble from drive gears to park. Sounds like a mechanical interference to me. The would think the selonoid would be located right at the side of the stick. I would expect a pin to be released to allow travel of the lever. I have never worked on an auto, so cannot say for sure.

What did you do to get out of "park" the first time?

pics?

Jazzer

[F15ace]

Jazzer,

What I do now is to press down on the metal tab below the stick shift so that I can get it out of park and into other gears. i will take a pic today to add to this thread. It seems that when I press the button on the stick shift that the metal tab does not engage far enough down to clear the detent for the park position. If it is the solenoid acting up, I do not know if the solenoid is in the stick column or located somewhere else.
I will try and take a pick of the levers below the stick today.

The only other explanation that I can think of is the plastic button is cracked or chipped inside the handle which may or may not engage the mechanical lever to depress low enough to clear the park detent. I may take apart the handle to see if all the parts are intact.

[99 GT vert]

check the fuse for the solenoid mine blew and i could not get it out of park. once i replaced that it worked fine

[BriansNSane]

I would also check the brake sensor located right above the brake lever(its a little black plug with 2 wires that completes a circuit when brake pedal is pressed),someone tied into it on my 98 f-150 before I bought it for an alarm system(for valet mode) and the wire was hanging in the connector by a thread and it wouldn't let me out of park sometimes.Worth a check!

[JC316]

I think it's called a park shift solenoid or something like that. Had this issue on a 95 Cadillac seville. I finally just disabled the sucker and made it like the cars of old, where you dont have to hit the brake to take it out of park.