ATX car fell off jack, now can't get out of park, what did I do and how do I fix it?

[Larry Hampton]

Had the wife's car up on jackstands all last week for the rack replacement. Had to drop the exhaust to get it out, the exhaust on it was full of holes and had a HUGE resonator on it. I had a spare exhaust from the resonator back that was good so I swapped that too. Repaired the headlights so we didn't have to use the aftermarket switch a PO had installed, also replace the factory front speakers.

As I'm getting it down off the 4 jack stands, I forgot to block the rear wheels after taking the rear stands out. Got one front stand out but couldn't jack up high enough for the passenger stand. I stuck a block of wood on top of the jack and as I was trying to pull the last stand out, it rolled.

Nothing else is damaged as far as I can tell, car starts and no more exhaust leaks, but won't come out of park.

[scitzz]

I am not much on ATX, but I had this happen to me many years ago in my first car, a dodge.

The parking pawl, as I understand it, is wedged in a little too tight. All we had to do was rock the car, trying to move the wheels a hair, in an attempt to move the trans enough for it to come loose. My buddy rocked the car, I was able to pop it into drive....

http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/9497faq/maint/stj/images/d9033e.gif

Anybody else?

[georgeb]

Hopefully it is the above but in case it is the shift interlock system: check ROOM and METER fuses. Check stop lamp switch. Listen for solenoid operation inside shifter assembly when brake is pushed. I was going to remove mine today but there is a screw that was unaccessible.

[Larry Hampton]

Scitzz, that was what I was thinking it might be, but these cars are sorta delicate, I wanted to check before I started shaking stuff. A light tapping with a small ball pein in that general area might also help, no?

George, I wasn't aware that there was a solenoid in the shifter itself?

[scitzz]

I think rocking it is where I would start, I don't know enough to suggest a hammer. Also, that picture is a generic, not a festiva...

[georgeb]

A small solenoid releases a pin from a latch when you step on the brake. The small sliding piece on the selector housing is supposed to be an emergency override but doesn't have enough leverage. You have to remove the cover and operate the lever by hand.

[crazyrog17]

Are you able to move the shift lever or not?

When the engine is running, listen for the little robot sounding shift interlock solenoid coming from the gear shift's base when you hit the brakes. The actual solenoid is on the right side of the shift lever. They are sometimes too weak when it's cold or the battery is low/alternator weak.

They won't work if the ROOM fuse is blown either. If your dome light and radio work, it's fine.

Check the cable that transfers the shifter's position to the transmission under the car. The cable pushes and pulls to rotate a shaft on top of the transmission under the hood. A 19mm nut retains the lever on the keyed shaft to the transmission.

[Larry Hampton]

Room fuse isn't blown, nor are any others.
I was.wondering what that little lever was.

No brakelights. Raining and the car is outside so no crawling under tonight.

[rbrown]

Glad no one was hurt. It's a scary thing when these dudes fall off.

I remember having the reaction once to catch it. Then the brain turned back on and I realized, duh.

[BUSTIVA]

My festy fell on me due to a faulty jack once. I was completely under the rear installing my coilovers when the jack suddenly but thankfully softly let go. Car pinned me to the gound and my friend was like "whoa man um did the car just fall on you?" I replied in a very clam suave tone, "um yeaaaah you mind getting it off me a$$#0L3 lol? Then we laughed alot. Luckily my festy is gutted and it was only the rear half that was on me. Motor side wouldve been another story...

[Larry Hampton]

I wonder if when I dropped the steering column I unplugged the brake.switch.

[scitzz]

My festy fell on me due to a faulty jack once. I was completely under the rear installing my coilovers when the jack suddenly but thankfully softly let go. Car pinned me to the gound and my friend was like "whoa man um did the car just fall on you?" I replied in a very clam suave tone, "um yeaaaah you mind getting it off me a$$#0L3 lol? Then we laughed alot. Luckily my festy is gutted and it was only the rear half that was on me. Motor side wouldve been another story...

I hope you use jack stands now....

Seems likely, now that the OP mentions removing the column, that is his problem. My bad :eeeeeek:

[crazyrog17]

No brake lights means no shift interlock solenoid. Check that BOO (brake on off) switch!

[Larry Hampton]

Well, after crawling under the dash, the brake switch is unplugged!!!

And I can't get my fat creaking hand up there!!!

I'm going to try and get my 11 year old son to get his hand up there to plug it in so I don't have to pull the lower column apart.

[scitzz]

Well, there's your problem!