John1A

Hello all,

I've a 2005 V6 automatic (only mod is single GT takeoff), and after driving it for a bit today got back in, started up, and could not shift out of park. The shifter depress on the left hand side of the shifter would not go in no matter how hard I tried and could not shift from 'P'. Key in & out, started up quite a few times, same result. Walked away, came back after 5 mins, started and shifted just fine. Seems Ok again.

I'm worried this will happen again & maybe get stranded somewhere. Any ideas? I noticed some people with older mustangs this would happen when the brake lights were out but mine are fine.

Thanks for any input you guys have and this is a great forum.

svastano

Are you sure that you had the brake pedal pressed???? Sounds dumb but have to ask the obvious.... If the brake is not pressed it will not come out of park/.

Avalanch3

I was thinking the same thing...

John1A

Thanks guys. I was pressing the brake as usual, but maybe not really really hard. Of course I'll feel really silly if I was pressing too lightly!! Now I know that the break releases the shifter switch I'll concentrate on that if it happens again. (I'm a little touchy about the shifter as a few months ago I had the opposite problem [could not get *into* park] and the shop had to replace my auto-shifter.)

157dB

If you do get "stranded" in park, there is an emergency park release mechanisim
under the shifter trim. Its a little removable tab on the right side of the plastic trim.
http://www.analogstereo.com/pdf/om/m...anual_2006.pdf
Page 151.
The owners manual was printed for a reason and includes lots of useful info.

This problem was kinda out there and if I had not read the owners
manual cover to cover, I would have not known. Very valid question.

John1A

Thanks 157db. Useful info. Will read my owners manual next time :-)

Napoleon85

I had this problem in a previous car that I owned and it turned out there is a sensor on the brake pedal that had failed, I think it cost $7 at Autozone.

antipeterleague

same thing hapenned to me once. nice summer day, couldn't waitto get off work and go cruising in my stang, hopped in, tryign at the shifter but couldn't get it. after about 8 minutes i realized i wasn't pressing the brake...woops!