Car starts but Elec messed up (won't shift from Park)

[r_tremblett]

Hello this is actually about my Wife's 1996 Ford Taurus. Her car will start but none of the electrical will work. For instance the Radio, power windows etc. Thus she can not shift the car out of Park and into gear to drive it.

I suspect that it may be either a brake relay or something called the Neutral Safty switch (Transmission Range Sensor)

Ford Told me that it may be a pinched wire in the interfender rail that will take about 2 hours to look for it before they even know what the problem is.

Any Ideas what could be going on here. I have already checked all the fuses.

Please Help.
Bob

[kwalla73]

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM:

I recently bought a brand-used 91 Ford Taurus GL 4 Door Sedan. It starts and drives, although there may be a problem with the transmission due to the slow bumpy switch into what seems to be 2nd - 3rd gears. However, in the week that I've owned it, power windows, radio, power locks, and some minor little lights around the interior are not working. I checked all the fuses, even opened up the panel under the steering column. No luck. Everything appeared fine to my untrained eye. I'm a hands on kinda guy and electrics are somewhat of an interest to me. I'd like to do the job myself, but I don't know where to start. I'm sure that any info that anyone can give will be a lot more than we have right now.

Best of luck!

Kwalla

[mikeemon]

Two things to keep in mind:
1. There are two yes 2 fuse blocks. One under the dash and one under the hood.

2. There is an interlock from the brake pedal to shift from park. I believe it is called the BOO switch (Brake On Off) Switch.

[David Powell]

Check and see if you have brake lights? If not we need to find out why. The shift interlock, the part that wont let you shift without your foot on the brake first is feed on the brake light circut. To move the car try this. Turn the key forward just enough to unlock the steering wheel. Then put the car into nutrual. This should help get you going if needed. You can start the car and put it in drive as normal. Let us Know what happens.