Shifter locks in Park

[Steve K]

'02 Ranger 2WD 4.0L Ext Cab XLT 150K mi - Have a couple of annoying issues I’m working through, I’ll start with the biggest pain in the arse. I cannot shift out of park unless I put the ignition switch in the On position and move the shifter slightly out of Park with the brake pedal depressed, then start the truck. If I move the shifter to reverse/drive all is good, if I move it back to Park, it locks again. It seems to lock in Park only after the key returns to On from Start.
The shift lock solenoid and the brake pedal circuit appear to be working. I have to depress the brake pedal to move it out of Park with the ignition in the On position. I pulled the lock cylinder out and dissembled, cleaned, lubricated, and reinstalled. No fix. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Next issues are intermittent Cruise Control and and intermittent Air Bag light (steering column harness?) and intermittent ABS light, but those are for later posts. One thing at a time.

 

[JoshT]

Can't speak to the cruise control issue, but I'm pretty certain that that is the way that the shift lever is intended to work.

Maybe I'm just not understanding what it is that you are describing/asking.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Double check down on the pedal.

I have had a 97 Expedition and an 97 aerostar do the same thing.

Theres a wire soldered to the brake pedal. Ford left it pretty short, and im assuming its ground for the interlock. On both of the rigs i had they would lock in park and i found this wire to be broke or on the verge of breaking.

 

[Steve K]

Hate to say it but that's the area I was expecting to be heading to. Been under there before with the Cruise Control issue and as the saying goes "the first place to look for something wrong is the last place someone worked".
I'll post what I find.

 

[Steve K]

Hate to say it but that's the area I was expecting to be heading to. Been under there before with the Cruise Control issue and as the saying goes "the first place to look for something wrong is the last place someone worked".
I'll post what I find.

The problem is either the brake pedal position switch or the connector. Moving the switch around or reseating the connector cures it. I'll change them both.
Not sure why it would unlock moving the key from Off to On and depressing the brake pedal but lock in Park if you did a normal start and the key returned to On. But as long as it's working I'll ponder that when I don't have anything else to worry about.