Need some help from the van guru's. My 1998 E250 is stuck in park and I can't get it out. As the weather got colder it seemed to have this issue first thing in the morning. Once everything warms up the issue goes away. Now it won't come out at all. It is like something is not releasing so it can shift out of park.
Any ideas?

 

Does that model have the interlock that requires you to step on the brake pedal to shift out of park?

If so, it might be related to the electric interlock under the dash. On my 2009 Ford, the owners manual has instructions on overriding that feature in the event of a problem.

I'm sure others will offer some help...I'm not familiar with that year.

 

Agreeing with tx2sturgis on this.

Also, Check if you have brake lights when you step on the brake pedal, as the brake light switch controls the Park lockout, to a solenoid at the base of the steering column to lock the Park position.

If you have no brake lights, good chance the brake light switch is in need of replacing.

Other wise, you have a problem with the solenoid on the steering column.
And, yes, that could be affected by the cold.

 

Agreeing with both TX and WM here---first thing to check is the 10 amp fuse in position #6 of the inside fuse box---if its blown this would indeed be the fix.

IF a replacement fuse instantly or quickly also blows there is a wiring issue that needs to be addressed.

Anyone who is a DIY on such small issues needs an EVTM for their specific year and chassis like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Ford-Econoline-Club-Wagon-150-250-350-wiring-diagram-electrical-manual-EVTM-/390969054323?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item5b07925473&vxp=mtr Its not your exact year but it would be close enough for 99% of your electrical needs for that chassis.

HTH

 

I guess he's still stuck in 'park' somewhere, miles from home, and cant check in to the forum here to let us know!

 

That's actually pretty funny. IT could have actually happened but luckily it was right in front of the house when it let me down. Turns out it was the brake light switch. I disconnected the wire from the switch at the pedal and used a wire to jump it. The transmission came out of park and the brake lights stayed on. Was not able to get a replacement until late today to be sure that was the problem but $9 later and one busted knuckle I am back in business.
Thanks so much for all the help.

 

Glad to hear you had an easy fix to this problem

Anything worst, and you would have gotten 2 or more busted knuckles.

 

hi its a shift interlock solenoid ,thats the part you need

 

No, six years ago when he posted this he also followed up that it was the brake light switch.

 

im having the exactly same issue! I have a 2010 ford e150.
it happened the same thing last january, a year ago and now is happening again.
on January 2021, my shift got stuck on park.
there was no break light. I replaced the brake light switch, as well, the fuse. But it didn’t work.
so , i had to take to the mechanic friend of mine, he told me it was a small part inside the steering wheel system.
i tried to find out which part he replaced, but he got covid and was in a bad shape. I never found out.. he moved away..

now, one year later, im having this same issue… the car in the morning, wont let me switch gear from park, i have to keep trying and make use of force in order to move gear from park.
later on the day, apparently, when the weather or/and the car gets hotter. The issue doesn’t happen again. Is always in the morning.
last monday, a strange situation happened, I turned off the car in the middle of the day. When i tried to turn it on, the engine, the starter didn’t even ran. It looked like completely dead but with the battery. My friend was with me in his van, and we try to jump the battery, but the car didn’t seems to respond. And , suddenly, after i tried again, hitting the brake pedal, it started!
today, another weird thing happened. After i try to start the car, the starter made a brief noise. I thought the battery went dead.
i tried again, and now started as it should. With the same park shift problem…. I have to shake input force in order to release the lever…
anyone has any ideas what is the cause!?
thanks so much

 

Ignition key unlocks the steering column, the brake pedal switch trips a solenoid to unlock the gear selector
There is also a Ignition starter switch (bottom of column mount) that is connected from the key switch with a "accumulator" (3" long piece of plastic) that breaks
more that likely that's what your mechanic replace last year.

You mean no crank or no start?? There is a difference.
No crank would mean the ignition starter switch was not activated. Problem from key switch or the accumulator, or bad switch.
If your having problems with getting the gear selector out of park, the brake switch might have failed again, or not properly mounted and wired connected.
On my van, sometime the steering wheel locks in a "tight" position, and I have to turn it a little to get the selector out of park, it binds internally.

There is also an "Starter Solenoid" mounted on the front radiator support that Key>starter switch>solenoid=starter.

 

Thanks for your reply, mate!
i mean no crank, was like when you tried to turn it on, it got mute. No sound of nothing.
then i took the key out and put again and tried one more time, this time it went normally.
the break lights it’s working properly.
But the main problem still the stuck gear on park.
im gonna definitely check your advice,

 

just a brief update.
last week, my gear was stuck really bad in park position.
i put too many power trying to move the gear into drive. I did, but the lever is completely messed up. It got bended really really bad.
but since then, I never had any problems with the gear being stuck.
but another issue came up.
the light of the park position is not turning on. Only the other gears .
and, by that, it means that the system is not reading correctly that the car is in park, draining all the battery…
the gears goes in park but it seems the car can’t read that.
any ideas?
maybe the shift cable got stretched and cant set the gear into park?
thanks mates

 

Your original problem was the shift interlock solenoid, I offered a solution way back in 2014. If you paid no attention then you've made the problem worse significantly damaging a few of the steering column's internal parts.

Find a competent shop and have them address this for you---you're doing yourself no favors haphazardly fumbling with this on your own.

 

thanks for your reply!
i will buy the shift solenoid and i will install it before i take to the shop.
It is in the column almost along where the shift cable goes, right!?
The break lights is not working either. I replaced a few hours ago the break light switch but the light’s still off. Checked the fuses, everything is okay.
i can turn the van on by only turn the key in the ignition, no need of pressing the break pedal.
Since the system is not recognizing that the gear is in park, it drains the battery.
The reason that i forced it , is because i was running late to work. I cannot loose my job.
maybe i made the problem worse than before, but i have time now to figure this out!
Everything is running smoothly, besides the system is not recognizing the park gear and the break light doesn’t work.
thanks so much for your help!!!!