Mercury Grand Marquis auto won't shift into gear

[Jobe72701]

My mother's 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis LS automatic won't shift into gear. She says that she has to pump the breaks dozens of times before it will shift out of park. Sometimes while pumping the breaks it will almost go to the floor, then you can shift in gear. Someone thought it was pressure related and that breaks/shifting was interconnected. Break fluid was added and it made no difference. They tried messing with the linkage under the dash, but it didn't help much. Any ideas?

[fredjacksonsan]

Did you have to apply the brakes in order to shift out of park before the problem began? If so, you've got a Brake/Park interlock switch. Sounds like that may be failing.

[fredjacksonsan]

I'd also have the brakes checked out, going to the floow doesn't sound to good.

[Samurai0]

Is there a faint hissing noise anywhere near the pedals? Listen when the car is running.

You might have to remove the kickpanel near the pedals.