bonehead24

after being at a friends new years eve, started the escort but it wouldn't shift out of park, we( my wife and i) borrowed my friends truck to drive home. the next morning went back and started the car and still didn't shift until i turned the steering wheel all the way right and left , then it shifted out of park. this happened once before to my wife, but she got to shift after a short time. I would appreciate any help,

Davescort97

The Ignition/Shifter Interlock Cable from the steering wheel to the shifter is kinked or bound by thick grease in cold weather. The shift interlock system prevents the gear shift lever from being moved out of the Park position by the shift lock actuator, the park range switch, and the Ignition/shifter interlock cable that is connected to the ignition switch. The ignition switch must be in the ON position and the brake pedal depressed to move the shifter out of park.

Possible sources of the Shift interlock system not releasing are:

Fuse for the brake llights out
Shift lock actuator worn
Brake light switch not working
Park range switch not working
Shift cable adjustment needed
Gear shift lever linkage binding