Shift Lever - Cannot Be Pulled Out of Park Position

86ford23 Article No. 86-3-18

TRANSMISSION - AUTOMATIC - ALL - FLOOR MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER CANNOT BE PULLED OUT OF PARK POSITION


FORD 1984-86 THUNDERBIRD, ESCORT, TEMPO, EXP

LINCOLN-MERCURY 1984-86 COUGAR, MARK VII, LYNX, TOPAZ

If the floor mounted automatic transmission shift lever cannot be moved out of the park position when the release button is depressed, the shift lever knob may not be fully released on the shift lever, or the transmission control shifter rod may be broken within the shifter lever.

To service this condition:

^ Firmly seat the shift knob by striking the top of the knob smartly with a rubber mallet.

For Thunderbird/Cougar Only:

^ If the shifter still does not release, on the 1984-85 Thunderbird/Cougar only, remove the shift lever knob and remove the shift selector rod to determine if it is broken; if so, replace it with a new shift selector rod using the following procedure.

Figure 18:

^ Obtain locally a piece of wire such as music or piano wire approximately .036" diameter, and bend a hook on one end of the wire (Figure 18).

Figure 19:

Figure 20:

^ Push the wire hook into the shifter lever and work the wire hook in such a manner that it is felt to pass over the beads of the shift selector rod. Rotate the wire until the hook is caught on one of the beads, (Figure 19) and pull the broken portion of the shift selector rod out of the shifter lever (Figure 20).
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: None
WARRANTY STATUS: Reimbursable within the provisions of the Warranty and Policy Manual.
OPERATION: SP7148A86 - Shift lever, seat T-handle.
TIME: 0.2 Hr.
OPERATION: SP7148A1 - Replace shift selector rod.
TIME: 0.3 Hr. DLR. CODING: Basic Part No. 7E148 - Code: 01