It can be annoying when you want to get out of park but your Ford Expedition is stuck. You try all solutions but still, the car won’t shift into drive or reverse. Now, you’re left wondering, why is the Ford Expedition stuck in park.
Worry no more. In this post, we have done some research for you, and here are the causes of why your Ford Expedition is stuck and the solutions.
What Caused the Ford Expedition to Be Stuck in Park?
There are several reasons why your Ford Expedition is stuck in park.
Faulty Brake Sensor
A working brake pedal is necessary for running a vehicle especially if it has an automatic transmission. This is because the system comes with a motorized switch for the brake interlock. This component has a sensor designed to detect when the driver depresses the brake pedal.
If the sensor fails, the onboard computer will not detect when you’re applying the brake. Basically, when you depress the brake pedal, your Ford Expedition will become stuck in park.
The good news is you can replace the faulty brake switch. This task is easy and requires no experience or skills.
Solution
You need to have a friend check if your Ford Expedition brake lights are coming on when you depress the brake pedal. Alternatively, you can use your phone camera if you don’t have anyone to help. If the brake lights do not light up, you have a faulty brake switch. Replace it and you should be back on the road.
Faulty Transmission
You can trace the cause of a faulty transmission to several reasons. They include low transmission fluid, water intrusion, fluid contamination, or internal wear and tear of parts inside the transmission.
You may discover that some transmission components need repair, especially as a result of bad shift linkage. If this happens, your transmission won’t work.
Solution
To get your transmission working again, you need to locate the issue. However, this requires specialized diagnostic equipment. The good news is regardless of the damaged component, you can get parts to replace them.
Bad Shifter Interlock System
Modern cars come with a shift interlock system. This is a crucial safety feature that ensures your car won’t shift out of park without the driver having the brake pedal depressed. This helps to keep the car from accidentally being shifted into drive or reverse by an errant driver or children.
Solution
The shifter interlock system is a standard feature and can help prevent a collision by mistakenly shifting into reverse or drive. In case this system becomes faulty, there is a way to reset it.
But first, you’ll need to find it for your vehicle’s model year. So, grab the vehicle’s manual and look for information on how to access the override button. The override button is a small plastic cover that you can remove and override the shifter lock solenoid. This will bypass the feature and get you back on the road fast.
High-Pressure Parking Pawl
The parking pawl is an important feature in modern vehicles especially those with an automatic transmission. If your car lacks this feature, when you park it and it’s on neutral, it will roll away.
If you park your vehicle on a steep incline or hill, there will be a lot of pressure on the parking pawl. Additionally, the driver will find it difficult to shift the gear to drive or reverse. This is because the transmission will be wedged within the parking gear.
Solution
To resolve the issue, turn your engine on and then rock the vehicle while your foot is off the brake. Now, press the brake pedal down when you’ve rocked uphill. This will take off the extra pressure from the parking pawl. Finally, apply light pressure to the transmission to avoid breaking the shift linkage.
Damaged Shifter Cable
Ford Expeditions with an automatic transmission come with a shifter cable while cars with a manual transmission have two wires instead of one. Based on your driving style, these cables could get damaged or broken.
The cable may also become clogged with grease or corroded. This will make it difficult for your transmission to move smoothly. Furthermore, other parts such as interlock switches may gather dirt, moisture, and grease impairing their efficiency.
Alternatively, these cables may break due to the changing speeds or be caused by crashing into shift. If the cable breaks, the transmission will not work. Also, if it stretches, the transmission will not function properly.
Solution
Have a professional mechanic take a look at your car. If he identifies a damaged shifter cable as the issue, have it replaced.
How Do You Release a Stuck Shift Lock Release?
Every modern vehicle comes with a shift lock release. This safety feature enables you to use your car if your shift gets stuck. To release a stuck shift lock release, follow these instructions.
- Turn on the emergency or park brake
- Turn on the ignition after inserting the key. Remember, you don’t have to start the engine.
- Now, locate the shift lock override slot. This slot is usually located next to the lever and you might have to remove a plastic cap.
- Take a screwdriver, key, or nail file and insert it into the slow. Push it down and keep pressure on it.
- Now, engage the override shift gears while pressing the brake pedal
If you follow the instructions above you should release the stuck shift lock release.
Final Thoughts
From our post, it’s evident that different issues may cause your Ford Expedition to get stuck in park. They include a faulty brake sensor, faulty transmission, bad shifter interlock system, high-pressure parking pawl, and damaged shifter cable.
Lucky for you, we outlined solutions to these issues in the post. If you follow the instructions, you should get your Ford Expedition up and running in no time. If not, have a professional mechanic take a look at your car.
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