Shift Stuck in Park 1992 Ford Escort

[madmanmel]

I have a 1992 Ford Escort with a 1.9 EFI engine. A few weeks back I noticed the shift button was hard to push at times, usually after it sat for several hours. Once driven it worked fine. Around the same time, my power locks only worked when the car was cranked, and anytime someone closed a door on the car, the radio would reset. This past weekend, the shift button stuck and I can't get the car out of park. The radio also has stopped working, and the power locks are not working as well.

I replaced the 20 amp STOP fuse in the interior control panel, and the 100 amp MAIN fuse under the hood to no avail. The car does crank without issue, and still maintains 25 mph city despite having 192K miles.

Have I missed a fuse? Is there something I am missing?

[Davescort97]

Welcome to AF!

It won't come out of park unless the stop lamps work. Check them for illumination. If it still won't come out of park the ignition-shifter interlock cable needs to be replaced. To get it out of park manually there is a little plug in the side of the console. Take it out and insert a long narrow screwdriver and press in while you move the shifter out of park. Until you get it fixed, I would, if it were me, not put it in park when parked. I would leave it in neutral and set the parking brake and start it in neutral the next time. That way the shifter won't lock out on you.

[madmanmel]

Thanks for the info. When I insert the screwdriver, do I run it straight down? I know it's not driveable now, but I really don't want to add to my misery.

[Davescort97]

Yes, just run the screwdriver straight in. I forgot that you can't get the key out of the ignition unless it is in park.

[madmanmel]

The long thin screwdriver did the trick. Car shifted out of park. Now to diagnose the actual issue and repair it. Thanks so much.