ATX shifter button not working, car stuck in park sometimes...

[fitefanSHO]

Seems like this has been a problem kinda building up and today it hit me and nearly stranded me; sometimes in the past I would have trouble with the ATX shifter button like it would not engage and unlock and so I could not get the car out of park effortlessly. Usually a little wiggle or push forward would find the sweet spot, unlock the shifter and out of park and off I'd go. It got stuck like this again today only much harder to get it out of park, when I finally did get it out of park, smooth sailing but now I'm forced to leave the car in N with E Brake on on flat surfaces until I figure out what to do.

What do I need to do?

Replace the shifter? Just the ****?

What are my options?

Thanks.

 

[rubydist]

I have had the shift interlock become inoperable. Symptoms were similar to your description. Solution is to remove part of the console and disconnect the shift interlock cable from the shifter, allowing you to shift out of part w/o having to step on the brake. If you search, you can find more detailed description.

 

[fitefanSHO]

Disconnect the shift interlock cable.

Sounds like a plan.

Thanks

 

[hawkeye18]

Well hold on a minute there; unless this is being caused by a physical interference problem in the shifter, which is pretty rare, you're just fixing the symptoms of it, not the cause.

You need to see if your brake lights are coming on all the time. The BOO (Brake On/Off) switch, mounted on the brake pedal, is necessary for deactivating the shift interlock. In fact, that switch is what deactivates it. If the BOO is malfunctioning intermittently, you won't be able to shift out of park when it's happening. Of course, the brake lights also not working will be the easier way to tell.

Before you disconnect the cable, next time it happens, turn the car off and turn the key to the first (I) position, as opposed to the RUN (II) or START (III) position. This also disables the interlock and allows you to shift out of park without pushing on the brake. If this works, and you can't shift out of park in OFF or RUN, your BOO switch is at fault and needs replacing. Your brake lights, and every car behind you, will thank you.

 

[fitefanSHO]

Well, the brake lights are not coming on...boo-hoo, I guess I gotta replace the BOO switch...

This an easy inexpensive thing to do?

 

[hawkeye18]

Yes, as long as you have a good back. You have to get to the brake pedal arm, which is way up underneath, where the... uh, brake pedal is.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...h-BWD_3999386-P_422_R|GRPSESWAMS_575674905___

^^That's the switch you need to get. Replacement is a little more complicated due to the linkage that's hooked up to it, but you'll figure it out after a few minutes.

 

[itsstan]

Before buying the switch, you might want to check the connections on the switch. I had the same problem on a 95 cougar, the wire was broke right at the connector.

 

[rubydist]

Before you replace the switch, check the fuses. my red 94 likes to blow that one 10a fuse from time to time, which causes the brake lights not to come on....

 

[fitefanSHO]

Gonna check fuses first.

Then make sure the wire connection is good at the switch.

Then if necessary buy and replace the switch itself.

 

[lowc]

had to rewire the wires to switch in the 92

 

[TwistedD85]

Even after replacing my BOO switch I experience the occational shifter lock out, but all I have to do is press on the connector to seat it again, the aftermarket BOO switch probably isn't as tightly fitting as the Motorcraft part.

 

[fitefanSHO]

fuse was fine, wiring "seems" ok... replaced the sensor itself today and brake lights are back and no more atx lock out :sun:

 

[hawkeye18]

Yaaay! See, wouldn't you have felt dumb tearing your console apart...

I know this only because I was stuck in the middle of an intersection, at night, with a dremel, milling a hole in the spade on the switch so I could insert what was left of the crumbled wire through it.

 

[fitefanSHO]

hawkeye18 , if I knew how to tear apart my whole console, I'd feel wicked smart! Thanks for your help!!

 

[rubydist]

Yaaay! See, wouldn't you have felt dumb tearing your console apart...

I know this only because I was stuck in the middle of an intersection, at night, with a dremel, milling a hole in the spade on the switch so I could insert what was left of the crumbled wire through it.

I would have felt a lot dumber sitting in the middle of the intersection with the dremel in the dark, knowing that the situation could have been avoided by getting rid of some stupid interlock to protect the idiots, but that's just me.

 

[hawkeye18]

I would have felt a lot dumber sitting in the middle of the intersection with the dremel in the dark, knowing that the situation could have been avoided by getting rid of some stupid interlock to protect the idiots, but that's just me.

This was many many years ago, back before I knew of the SHOForum. Had I known, I probably would've never been in that situation! lol

 

[fitefanSHO]

at least now I know why people were honking at me sometimes (no brake lights )

 

[hawkeye18]

at least now I know why people were honking at me sometimes (no brake lights )

:laugh_ti:

And, you should be impressed that I had not only a friggin' dremel in the car, but the inverter necessary to run it at the time! I used to live out of that car.

 

[rubydist]

:laugh_ti:

And, you should be impressed that I had not only a friggin' dremel in the car, but the inverter necessary to run it at the time! I used to live out of that car.

Yeah, that part was pretty impressive!