Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

My good wife's '98 Mustang GT, 4.6 Liter, automatic transmission, has a annoying problem. She (and I) cannot move the transmission out of "Park", especially in cold weather. We have to start the engine and let it warm up for as much as ten minutes before the gearshift will move into reverse or drive. In the summertime, the warmup time is much less or none at all. We took the car to the dealership and paid an awful sum for whatever they did, but the benefit was nil. The problem persists and with cold weather coming on, we know we will be waiting in our driveway for what seems a long, long time. I am confident someone knows exactly where the fault lies, and what I need to tell the professionals to do to correct it. I realize (of course) pressure on the brake releases a safety mechinism and you can hear it "click" when you touch the brake, so that seems to be working. You cannot depress the button on the shift mechanism, however, until the engine is thoroughly warmed up. Thanks a million for your help!
Dan Stiles

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

Hmm, well if it didn't get fixed, there should be some sort of warranty on their work... I had to get some work done on my stang when I first got it, and I had like a 6 month warranty on the repairs. So before you pay anything else, make sure you don't HAVE to pay them again.

Anyways, some of the guys and girls here know a hell of a lot about fixing these kinda things, and it might be something you can do yourself-- I'm sure they'll let you know.

Don't pay them if you don't have to!

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

I know there's a cable that can go bad that connects that button to the release mechanizm. Have you tried pushing the shifter forward before pushing the button? Sometimes that releases the tension and will let you shift it out of park...

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

Sounds like to be youre safety switch my be failing or linkage has some kind of loseness in it.

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

Sounds like to be youre safety switch my be failing or linkage has some kind of loseness in it. Then my last guess would be youre lock tranny my need servicing.

Good Luck.

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

is this car parked on a hill?

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

Even if it were on a hill it would still be hard to pull out of park cold or warmed. My driveway was nothing but a hill when I was a kid. I quickly learned to put the Ebrake on before you put it in park. :D

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

I know this..was just looking for something I have seens happens..with heat if it bound up the grease on cable being warm could make it easier to shift..

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

cool... just saying. ;)

RE: Stuck in Park - what's wrong?
 

it cool:)