the shifter is in park but the dash readout says its still in drive and the car wont start....changing the position of the shifter doesn't change anything . car wont start when the shifter is in neutral or park ....my obd tool wont connect to the computer to check for error codes..the dealer called and they don't know whats wrong and they cant connect to the computer either....when I couldn't start the car I did jumper the battery and wrongly connected the terminals briefly in case that matters here....the battery shows full charge no check lights or alt lights before it died..I drove the car 200 miles parked it the driveway and came back 5 minutes later and it wouldn't start...any help greatly appreciated.............Wayne

 

Sounds like the linkage is messed up. Or the park/neutral switch is bad.

Does anything happen when you turn the key? dash lights, fuel pump primes, stereo comes on. Do the lights work? Horn?

 

yah I get a sound thats probably the fuel pump cycling and the lights work no starter sound dash lights worked..the dash readout is on ..just shows that the shifter is in drive even though the actual shifter is in park, it did seem as though the shifter was easier to move than usual....and the dealer said he couldn't connect to the computer..I have a OBD tool and I tried to connect to the computer and it wouldn't as well...........Wayne

 

Does the indicator move as you shift through the gears? If so then move it to one position of neutral and try to start it. Either way your linkage will need adjusting or replacing.
200 miles after the jump start error and no fires, I would say you are past that concern.
I do not understand why you cannot connect an OBD tool to the computer unless the linkage issue is blocking the ignition switch from indicating the 'on position' to the computer and then the computer is not communicating to the OBD tool.
Yeah, now that I think about it, everything is coming back to the linkage. So go with Scott, I agree with his call.

 

indicator on dash does not move when I shift the gear ****, I did try starting in the neutral position on the **** but no go.....I drove 200 miles then parked the car.... 5 minutes later it would not start and shifter problem started..good thing it didnt happen at a rest stop with 2 kids in the car......I just called the dealer still no new info , I told him about the error in jumping the car and he said that might be the reason for the computer not connecting.....the battery jump error occurred right after the shifter and no start problem .so thats not resolved yet..thanks for the reply's......Wayne

 

Check the gearshift cable at the motor. Make sure it did not come loose.

 

the car is still at the dealer they wont do anything until the pcm works .they said they will try reloading the data .........

 

I had the linkage break in a 2002 Tribute so it can happen. Mine happened to be in park when it occurred so starting was not an issue, just couldn't shift out of park.

 

ok,a final update...the car is fixed the dealer said it was a corroded wire under the battery box. no parts were replaced $194 bill..........man I came very close to buying a new pcm on ebay glad I didnt, I went to the dealer to get the numbers off the pcm and the car was in the lot so just for jiggles I tried to start the car and voila it started right up....seems like a lot of money for what they fixed but its all labor.......thanks for your kind input guys........Wayne...... p.s. a green wire

 

What year is your Escape? Several others have mentioned corroded wires under the airbox or battery tray or something.

 

its a 2006 Escape XLT AWD 3.0 engine 115k miles............Wayne

 

wsmith, you did OK for $194! For someone to actually troubleshoot down to the cause, rather than just replace part after part. Sounds like someone at that dealership service dept. is pretty good.

For the future, I think I would take a peek under that tray, and see what the story is. Does acid creepage from battery vents have an easy path down the side of the battery and off of the tray onto a wiring harness? Or is it road-splash related or something? If other people have mentioned wire problems under the battery tray, seems somethings up.

 

yah I think your right.. when I get a chance I'll make sure the wires are not in a bad spot or maybe tape them up to keep the road crud off them.....W