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Asked: Dec 31, 2007 - 03:48 AM

Status: Closed

My Lincoln Town Car will not shift out of park. If there is a switch that may be turned off, where is it located?

My Linocoln Town Car didn't have any problems until I got the oil changed by "professionals". After my oil was changed, when I would start the car and put it into gear, (drive or reverse),the gear would not not shift. I would have to push the brake all the way to the floor and wait a few seconds while holding the brake down and eventually it would shift. I was driving one day since the gear would get stuck and the car completely "shut off" while I was driving it. I waited a few minutes and restarted the car, and it started. Since then the car has got stuck in park and now I am unable to drive it.It will start but will not let me shift. Do you guys have any answers that you think may apply?

In Maintenance & Repair > Steering
In Makes & Models > Lincoln > Town Car
3 answers - 631 days ago

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mr_shiftright

Date: Dec 31, 2007
Time: 11:07 AM

You either have a balky brake pedal switch that sends a signal to the park lever solenoid, or a defective solenoid at the park lever itself. The solenoid releases the park level, the brake switch tells the solenoid to do this.

avatar

adjuster

Date: Dec 31, 2007
Time: 02:03 PM

The brake light switch is broken or the wires have burnt off. It's under the dash on the brake pedal. In the meantime you can drive the car by putting your foot on the brake switch and pulling down on the gear shift lever into N while turning the key to start all at the same time. The gear will pop into N and after the car starts you can shift to D or R, just don't put it in P until you are aready to turn the car off.

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hardhatdvr

Date: Feb 15, 2008
Time: 12:16 PM

I just encountered the situation where one of the wires to my brake light switch detached and I was unable to shift out of Park. To start, you can also turn the key in the ignition to the detente just prior to starting and then shift into neutral, whereupon you can then start the car and shift into drive or reverse. If you shift back into park, you'll have to turn the engine off and repeat. Be aware that if it's your brake light switch, you will have no brake lights until you repair the problem, so the start bypass method is not a good long term solution. BTW the part is less than $10 in the store and less than $5 online, just a pain to contort your body to do it!

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