My wifes '95 2.5 SE ATX won't shift out of park. The solenoid in the shifter mechanism clicks when the brake pedal is depressed, but the release button seems to be stuck when you push try to push it down to shift out of park. If you work it for a while, sometimes 10 mins, and push very slowly it will eventually go. I am sure that the solenoid is working when the brake is depressed. It seems like there is something in the mechanism that hangs up. Anybody seen this before? As you can imagine, my wife is on my a$$ to get it fixed!
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ATX won't shift out of park?
- Thread starter maddog440
- Start date
Teal4Banger
CEG'er
I have this problem also. It is most likely the solenoid. Even if you hear it click. I can hear mine too. The problem is possibly that that the solenoid is engaging, but not pushing (or pulling - I don't recall) fully. Pop open the bezel around the shifter a couple inches and watch the plastic arm that locks the shifter in place (prevents the release arm from dropping) as you press the brake, I bet it doesn't fully clear the shifter locking mechanism.
All of this would also create the symptom of the shifter button not being able to be pressed in fully while in park. Most of the way, yes, but not all the way.
All of this would also create the symptom of the shifter button not being able to be pressed in fully while in park. Most of the way, yes, but not all the way.
After it screwed up on Contour I did away with it on my Focus too. I have a brother that got rid of a really nice SHO Taurus once over this very thing. I told him he was an idiot. He got mad until I showed him how easy to defeat it, then he got madder because he'd gotten frustrated and dumped the car.
projectSHO89
Hard-core CEG'er
You left out the letter "f". Note that there are only four "censored" characters.
I defeated the shift lock solenoid years ago with a zip-tie in our 98.
Steve
I will jump in and say the same thing.. Inspect your solenoid and the plastic arm that locks everything in place.
I'll also add that while it looks nice and seems more solid of a post, try not to post things that are "certain", "positive", "for sure" or "absolute" unless there is ZERO chance that it isn't true. The only way to have made sure of that would be to pull the solenoid and either test it or swap with a known good one to get the same results. Since you haven't done that, there is no way possible that you can be "sure" it is working. ESPECIALLY if you haven't even pulled the boot up and you're going solely by some clicking sound.
Take it easy, inspect that solenoid and good luck.. let us know what you end up finding.
I know the solenoid is at least moving. There is electical power there. Whether it is weak or not moving far enough, I can't say for certain. I just didn't want to waste everyone's time in thinking it is an electrical problem such as a bad lockout switch, blown fuse, etc. when I know that isn't the case. That would be my first assumption too. I have no idea of what the mechanical linkage is between the solenoid and the shifter release button. My factory Ford service manual does not have a great picture of how the system works.
Is the solenoid and linkage accessible from inside the car? The Ford manual says to raise up the vehicle and disconnect the shifter from underneath. I haven't pulled of be shifter bezel yet, as I have found flimsy interior plastic parts tend to break the first time they are taken apart.
Is the solenoid and linkage accessible from inside the car? The Ford manual says to raise up the vehicle and disconnect the shifter from underneath. I haven't pulled of be shifter bezel yet, as I have found flimsy interior plastic parts tend to break the first time they are taken apart.
Scorpion8
Hard-core CEG'er
Someone should post a pic of this solenoid and it's placement under the ATX shifter to make this thread truly useful.