quick help if anyone is on right now - shifter

T

tommiswizzle

Registered
My husband is trying to leave work, and he says he can't depress the button to get the car out of Park! We have 97 Mark VIII, with about 108k miles. Any hints, tips, tricks to get him home without me having to drive 50 miles to rescue him?

Might be related, but he said on his way to work this morning the cruise control stopped working. We had the recall work done about 2 years ago.

Thanks!
 
I'd check to see if the brake lights work first.

If they don't work, I'd check the fuse. If the fuse was blown, I'd unplug the rear trunk neon light ballast, and then replace the fuse.

A bad ballast can blow the brake light fuse, which is also the shift interlock fuse.

Opps, didn't see you there Jeremi. :)
 
Jesse helped me with this.

Turn the key just one click, it's about half way I was used to. You can then move the shifter to neutral and start it. Mine was a bad ballast. I have unplugged it and all is good. No neon though. Waiting to here back from Glitch.
 
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Hubby called back... he found the right fuse, had one spare... and it blew right away. I'm not sure which one it was. But, he is able to use a company car to get home, and will be home in an hour. I'll have him check to boards here, and see if he still needs assistance.

Thanks guys SO much!!!
 
Bad Ballast for sure. Open the trunk, remove the carpet on the trunk itself and unplug the big center light. Then replace the fuse that blew (again) and it will be fine. Then get ahold of "Glitch" and he will sell you a new ballast for a good deal and you'll be golden.
 
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