Gear shifter will not go into parker

[johnbrown]

I have a 2000 Expedition and 2 days ago the gear shifter quit going into the Park position. The gear shifter is on the steering column. I can jamb it just the other side of reverse, but it will not start. The parking brake is the only thing holding it in place. The indicator lies between P and R.

My wife was driving it at the time and she found a small gold screw on the floor board. It matches the others but I can't find where it came from. I can still start it in neutral , and it drives ok, but I have to feel my way through the gears. I couldn't find a fix in Chilton's.

Does this sound like a transmission issue or just something with the gear shifter and gear indicator? Thanks

 

[99 Expy]

So can you still move it through all of the other positions, or is it just stuck there? Last summer, mine randomly got stuck, and I took the cable off where it attaches to the transmission and sprayed it down with WD-40, and it has worked fine since.

 

[jacks3am]

you can start it in neutral, and i think thats a recall

 

[tmajikman]

Sounds like a 5 minute fix, a #30 Torx socket with a ratchet and an extension, look under the driver side where the steering column is, follow the shift linkage/gear selector, it is held in with 2 brass torx bolts, tighten them up and see if that fixes your problem, I had that problem 3 weeks ago and had to use the parking brake because mine would not go into park either.

 

[ELVATO]

So you're able to take the key out?

 

[daddyg70]

New member here and have similar problem. It was my wife as well driving my 98 EB and told me she was at park with ignition on and could not move the shifter back to D. She finally did and drove home. She was able to move it back to P.

Following morning I couldn't move it and wouldn't start. Tried to shimmy the wheel, no luck.

Need help! Thanks.

Greg

 

[tmajikman]

New member here and have similar problem. It was my wife as well driving my 98 EB and told me she was at park with ignition on and could not move the shifter back to D. She finally did and drove home. She was able to move it back to P.

Following morning I couldn't move it and wouldn't start. Tried to shimmy the wheel, no luck.

Need help! Thanks.

Greg

Read my post, #4, it is a common issue and an easy fix.

 

[tmajikman]

You can also start the truck in neutral if need be.