Hi

My Mondeo Automatic has suddenly decided to stay stuck intermittently in Park, and as it has not been out of the garage for three weeks wondered if this had anything to do with it.

One clue before this when being parked up in P if the footbrake was depressed there was a whirring from the gearlever handle.

Has anybody any clues before I call up for recovery and a potential repair

Many thanks

Regards

John

 

has the battery gone flat? have you tried swearing at it?
thats all I've got

 

Sounds like the solenoid is duff inside the gear lever hence the noise, when you press the foot brake WITH the ignition on it sends power to the solenoid thus allowing you to depress the button on the selector to change gear.

Martin

 

Thanks for that.
Is that complicated, or more to the point expensive,I am reasonably practical but have limited equipment.

Also is there an information site on the web with instructions.

Many thanks for what is a good lead and seems a probable cause of my fault

Regards

John

 

I know some automatics have a switch underneath where the gear stick is that you can press to get it out of park. Is the auto box oil at the correct level.

 

Glenn

Thanks for that.

The car is serviced regularly and the oil is fine.

I will try find the switch tomorrow in the daylight.

Many thanks

John

 

There should be a specific procedure for by-passing the park-brake release lock ..

Look in the owners manual ..

 

To be honest I wouldn't know I imagine it involves removing the selector or the top part of it as said there is a rectangular switch beside the gear selector you have to press this whilst simultaneously pressing the button on the selector lever, I have seen this on jap cars but there will be a way of releasing if it doesn't have one.

Martin

 

Ah there has to be a procedure ... I dont know the Mondy system but all the other Ford Auto's need to be put in N to tow them .. Hence the procedure ...

 

Yes there will be, any auto needs to be removed from P for it to be moved, they shouldn't be towed though unless it's a small distance.

Martin

 

Look along the centre console trim, you will see on the drivers side a slot about 10mm long at the lower edge of the trim near the lever, insert a screwdriver in here, and push the screwdriver handle forwards so the shaft inside the pushes the detent rearwards, the lever can then be moved.
Some auto's can be towed perfectly safely and ok, it depends on where the oil pump inside is driven, some are driven(internally) from the output shaft so they are circulating the atf all the time for cooling, others are not like this.
tabetha

 

Thank you so much tabetha, as usual more than helpful.
I had a problem with this earlier this winter, got a bit desperate really. But worked with a key out key in procedure, so luckely could be driven. But now I will know what to do