Transmission will not shift out of park

1987 FORD E-SERIES VAN
96,000 MILES • 7.5L • V8 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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CORONARIOT
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Parked and an hour later went to leave and it won't shift out of park. Where is the manual override located so I can at least move it? I have brake lights so fuse is good.
Mar 23, 2021 at 7:04 AM
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ASEMASTER6371
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
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Good morning,

You can turn the key one position and it will release the shifter. Put it in neutral and you can start the engine.

The interlock system has an issue.

The upper collar contains the interlock for the shifter. I attached a picture of the 2 components for this operation.

Roy
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Mar 24, 2021 at 10:16 PM
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CORONARIOT
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No matter how the key is turned the shifter does not move. It will start by manually pushing actuator rod down but still will no shift from park.
Mar 24, 2021 at 11:13 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
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Okay, I would disconnect the shifter from the column to see if it is a linkage issue between the column and the transmission.

You could also disconnect it at the transmission and see if the shifter moves.

Roy
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Mar 24, 2021 at 11:22 PM
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CORONARIOT
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Loosening a nut on the linkage allows me to manually shift the transmission but shifter still does not move.
Mar 24, 2021 at 11:25 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 52,796 POSTS
Okay, then something failed in the steering column for the shifter. It is not external, it is internal.

The 2 upper collars have to come off to find the failure.

Roy
Mar 24, 2021 at 11:38 PM
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