Sticks in Park

[upnorth]

2005 F 250 super duty, Lariat, 6.0 turbo diesel automatic, 160,000 miles.

I noticed this a couple times last year, it will be very reluctant to shift out of park. Once out of park the lever works fine. If I try it a few times it will go, but seems to be getting a bit more frequent. It almost seems like it thinks I don't have my foot on the brakes. I don't want to be out somewhere and then have it stick so bad I can't get it home.

Ideas?

[leech~~]

Have you noticed when it happens if you may be on an incline or have your wheel cranked tight to one side when you shut it off and restart it?

[upnorth]

Honestly wasn't paying attention. I don't drive it much, mostly for towing or hauling something.

[Scott K]

When it happens, ck to see if all of the rear brake lights are working, the shift interlock solenoid is activated by the brake light switch. If it ever leaves you stranded to the point you cant get it out of Park, the bypass for a column shift is to put the ignition between the lock position, and the on position, so basically just barely more the key forward from the off/lock position, and not far enough to turn the power on to the instrument cluster. Then just pull it out of gear.

[upnorth]

Thanks Scott, that should help at least get started on the process.

I did some thinking about this and what I recall was the first time I noticed it was when we were backing our 5th wheel into a site where the truck was on a slight incline. And our driveway where we park it has a bit of an incline and it happens there. What I am not so sure of is if it happens on flat level ground or not.

[outdoors247]

Inclines can definitely affect the truck coming out of park at times. My uncle had an older 90's model Suburban and it would stick all the time on the incline of a boat launch. It got so bad that he finally got in the habit of keeping one foot on the brake pedal and pushed the E-Brake down before releasing pressure on the regular brake pedal. After the boat was launched he would put it back in drive and then release the E-Brake. I'm sure you could probably replace something in the tranny to make this problem go away but his fix was cheap (free), and it only happened on inclines.

[gunner55]

I have came across this a few times & its usually with older vehicles,we have a 98 & a 99.Usually I do like Scott said,turn the ignition out the lock position while turning the steering wheel

[upnorth]

Well the wife and I messed around with it in the driveway a bit last night. I could replicate the issue and the brake lights do come on. Also found if I putzed around with pressing the brake pedal harder it would go. Kinda makes me think the switch on the brake isn't working quite right.

[DooWap]

Inclines can definitely affect the truck coming out of park at times. My uncle had an older 90's model Suburban and it would stick all the time on the incline of a boat launch. It got so bad that he finally got in the habit of keeping one foot on the brake pedal and pushed the E-Brake down before releasing pressure on the regular brake pedal. After the boat was launched he would put it back in drive and then release the E-Brake. I'm sure you could probably replace something in the tranny to make this problem go away but his fix was cheap (free), and it only happened on inclines.

This isn't a problem with the transmission, it's just a function of it's design. Your parking gear engages a lock in your transmission to keep the wheels from turning. If you park on an incline, the weight of the vehicle will put a load on this lock, making it difficult to disengage.

This is actually the recommended procedure, I always do this on an incline. Especially with a trailer on the back. RTFM Per my Silverado's manual:

Torque Lock

If you are parking on a hill and you

do not shift the transmission into

P (Park) properly, the weight of the

vehicle may put too much force on

the parking pawl in the

transmission. You may find it difficult

to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).

This is called torque lock. To

prevent torque lock, set the parking

brake and then shift into P (Park)

properly before you leave the driver

seat. To find out how, see

Shifting

Into Park on page 9-30

.

When you are ready to drive, move

the shift lever out of P (Park) before

you release the parking brake.

If torque lock does occur, you may

need to have another vehicle push

yours a little uphill to take some of

the pressure from the parking pawl

in the transmission. You will then be

able to pull the shift lever out of

P (Park)

[upnorth]

Swapped out the brake light switch....works like a charm now.

[Finns]

Thanks for the update.