no brake lights

2001 windstar I have no brake lights and also some times its hard to get in to gear the shifter wont move usually I can get it to work by tapping on the fuse box playing with the key or playing with the shifter.

fixed the brake light problem it was the brake light light switch. Now we will just have to see over time if it also fixed the shifter problem or not.

The brake light switch (which is under the dash and attached to the brake pedal assembly) does seem to fail over time (mine slowly died; it left the brake lights on once, draining the battery). It's fairly cheap and easy to replace.

Brake switch will also keep you from shifting out of park.
FIRST the wire to my brake switch broke.....
Second....my brake switch failed.....It would work when you pressed the brake pedal....but if you let up just a slight bit.....the brake lights went out.
It took someone following me (a group of vehicles traveling together) telling me about it in order for me to know.....after we checked them and they were working fine.....they noticed that they would flash ON....and go back out.
This is because you normally press the brake and then let up a bit.
New brake switch solved the problem.