dapado

Hi, my son's 1995 XLT 2 wheel drive 5.0ltr is having an issue.
His gear shifter (automatic) is starting to lockup in park and he cannot get it out.
He's a couple hundred miles away and I'm going to go take a look at it...just wanted some input as to what to look for.
Thanks.
Dale

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Brake lights probably are malfunctioning.

bluecar5556

Take a can of spray lube such as silicone and lubricate the shifter linkage at the transmission.

dapado

...thanks for the help. I'll give the spray a try when I get there.
Dale

Forge-World-FORD

Does he park on inclines/declines without using the parking brake? Everyone I've seen that has this issue is because the park on hills (sometimes even very slight hills) and don't use the park brake, the vehicle rolls a little bit once they take their foot off the brake and more or less locks it in park. Happened to my grandpas 88 camaro, a friends car, my brothers 94 mustang (when he forgets to use the park brake), and a few others I've seen.

It's why I make a habit of using the pb regardless of where it's parked.

bluecar5556

Whenever someone parks on an incline and does not make it a habit of using the :ahem: "parking" brake, this very small piece of metal is all that is keeping the vehicle from rolling out into traffic, down a hill straight into a tree, etc. Use the parking brake, that's what it's for! The shifter linkage won't wear out as fast.

Note: Not to be confused with the commonly known misnomer "emergency brake." Raise your hand if you ever tried to stop a vehicle with the parking brake in an emergency or anytime for that matter.

Forge-World-FORD

And....this is supposed to help keep it from sticking in park? Is this just transmissions in general. I would assume it is since you didn't say it was specific for our trucks. What I was stating before I do see a lot. Most times if I'm the one helping them I just rock the vehicle forward and back and the shifter comes loose. If I park on a steep incline/decline I usually. Put it into whatever gear my truck is going to roll (reverse facing uphill, drive facing down hill) set the parking brake, let it roll if its going to, then put it in park.

I'm mostly a parts changer and mediocre troubleshooter, so I don't know much about the technical stuff or internals of things on vehicles.

Please, if you're going to explain further...try to keep it at the army's standard (7th grade reading level) cause that's what I've been dealing with for 5 years. If you get too technical, or use too many big words, I'm gonna be spending some time on google trying to figure out what you're saying.

And if you get way way too technical. You might have to get out the crayons and construction paper.


EDIT: You already explained it as I was typing I guess. Thanks!

Forge-World-FORD

Do we have emergency brakes? Is there really such a thing on normal vehicles? I've seen people use the parking/hand brake in cars to slow down when they see cops on the side of the road and don't want their taillights giving away the fact they were just speeding.

bluecar5556

parking brake="emergency brake"

Forge-World-FORD

I meant real emergency brakes. Like trains have. I've never called it an E-brake. Parking brake to me, hand brake if its a lever you operate with your hand.