Won't Shift Out Of Park
 

Hey guys,

I've got a 2001 F-150 7700 4x4. When I start the truck, it will not shift out of park, while running, so I can't drive it anywhere. If I shift it into neutral, then start it, I can get it into drive, reverse etc. but once I put it back into park it won't shift out of park until I turn it off again. The problem started a while back, but then it would just get fussy sometimes and not want to shift out of park, but if you played with it a little bit it would shift. Not it won't at all. Any ideas???

A thought - press harder on the brake pedal.

No its not that. I can push it into the firewall and it makes no difference.

light circuit interlock
 

check your brake lights

or fuse
 

or check brake lamp fuse, its same circuit as shift interlock

just throwing this out there because I'm not real sure, but have you checked your shift linkage for anything?

It doesn't sound like a linkage issue.... i would go about checking the switch mechanism (solenoid) that tells your Truck's comp you are on the brake pedal. pushing the brake pedal harder wouldn't change the fact its broken and not recognizing your foot is even on the brakes. Its usally in the actual shift linkage (just had a customer with the same EXACT problem come in and that was the fix)

owners manual
 

strange, it tells in the owners manual what to do if wont shift out of park, they say to check the fuse or open shift console and there is a manual release button

The brake lights are working. After work I was able to get it to shift out of park, and then once again when i got home i tried it again and it wouldn't shift out of park. I havent checked the fuses yet, but I will try tomorrow.

The shift interlock is not on the brake lamp circuit for an 01, that was changed in an earlier year.

The shift interlock is switched "on" when the ignition switch is turned to RUN and is released when the brake pedal position (BPP) switch detects that the pedal has been pressed. The correct bypass procedure is to turn the key forward from the LOCK position, move the shift lever to NEUTRAL, then start the engine.

The BPP switch has two sections. One is used only for switching the brake lamps on, the other half is a signalling section that is sent to the shift interlock, the cruise module, 4WABS module, and the PCM (at least) to signal the electronics that the pedal has been pressed.

If the brake lamps are operating normally while the shifter interlock is not releasing, there is nothing wrong with the linkage as the switch lever is being activated.

I'd suggest checking the wiring to the BPP switch for intermittent opens or to test the BPP circuit output with a scan tool to see if the signal is getting lost.

Steve