need help asap !!!cant shift out of park

[yardman]

hello , i have a 96 and the car would not shift out of park when i left work , i checked the manuael and it said my brake lights probably are not working which they are not and it may be a fuse ..i checked the fuses and they are ok but i think it may be the brake shift lock selinoid , does anyone know where this is located / what it looks like or if it may be something eles that wont let me shift out of park and causeing the brake lights not to work

[KManiac]

The last time I experienced this was on my father-in-laws Aerostar van. The problem was a bad brake light switch at the brake pedal. Not only does the brake light switch turn on the brake lights in the rear, it also tells the park lock solenoid to unlock.

You can work around the park lock solenoid by turning the ignition switch to the "off and unlocked position", shifting the transmission out of park and restarting in neutral. You see, the park lock solenoid doesn't activate and lock the transmission into park unless the ignition is "on". Turning the ignition off unlocks the solenoid just like pushing on the brake pedal (and it functions properly).

[junk yard doggie]

The shift lock solenoid is located at the base of the column. Here is a picture of one on a 93 LTC column.

Http://cmasalvage.com/newer_style_column2.jpg

Http://cmasalvage.com/newer_style_column1.jpg

[yardman]

thanks kmanic it was the brake switch , 8$ at autozone and 30min to get plastic cover off ..i hate when i break fasteners..and install

[Ray Layne]

Was going to respond but I see you found the problem.