I have a 2001 Ford zx2 that is stuck in park. What can I do?

Question

Is it possible someone tampered with it? My mechanic brother in law has borderline personality disorder and out of the blue hates me...he is not above doing something like that.

Answer 1

just to the right of the gear selector, you will see a little round plastic piece about the size of a dime. Find a small flathead screwdriver and pop this out (it snaps back in). Use that screwdriver in the exposed hole and push in. It will take a few tries but you'll get it. Do the above while your foot is on the brake, and when you feel that you have pushed the brake release button correctly, then pull back the gear selector into the drive position. Doing this will only make your car drivable to get it to your mechanic, but I drove this way for months!

Answer 2

depending on if its floor shift or column shift there is a few things to look at. if its on the column the steering wheel is off center just a little. try pulling the wheel to either side and seeing if it will unluck then.. if not listen for the brake release solenoid to activate. do this by turning on the ignition step on the brake and listen for it to activate to release the shifter. that will be the same for both floor and column shifts. it will make a quick little clunk noise so listen close for it. if that is fine then consider linkage my be a little messed up or it was thrown in to park to hard and over ran the shift lever tangs on the inside of the transmission.

Answer 3

Try wiggling the steering wheel with the engine running. If the steering wheel is off center, it can jam the linkage to the shift lever.

Answer 4

Do you have brake lights?...Yes, brake lights............If not, check your fuses under the dash.

The release solenoid works off them.


Oh, are you parked on a hill? Pull hard.....