Well my overnight short trip to the Wheeling Casino turned into a repair nightmare.
Stopped to pick up a few supplies, and I couldn't shift out of Park. After a few minute search and rescue under the dash, located some sort of sensor that was very hot to the touch. Unplugged it, and voila I can shift again. Anyone have any idea what that plug is?
Then, the next morning we are all set to leave except for a stop at the Smoker's Paradise for cheap cigarettes for my brother in law. As I'm backing into a curbside parking spot I managed to back into a branch cut off from above. aaarrrrggg. Now I have a torn and mangled ladder, a hole punched into the rear corner of the house, and a crease that extends into the rubber gasket around the rear window.
Anyone have suggestions on fixing either problem? Sigh, just when I though it was safe to go camping again.
1993 Minnie Winnie
Class C 24'
Chevy 350
Usually pulling one of my toys
I know first hand that cigaretts kill (both of my parents when I was young).
You have to be careful around trees. I ran into a stop sign when my RV was less than 4 weeks old, and tor up some pinstripping on the sidewall. The "Westminster BLVD" part of the sign hit the top of my motorhome, just above the door, so it was easy to stand on the steps and fix the pinstripping!
Anything that can be made can be fixed. If you are in the middle of a trip, then some aluminum duct tape should make a raintight repair that will last for a little while. You should be able to get aluminum foil duct tape at a local hardware store. It is very sticky and has a plastic backing that is removed to get at the glue.
If your brake lights are not working, then usually the fuse is bad, and the modern cars and trucks will not shift out of park. By setting the parking brake, then turn off the engine, turn the key to on, then shift to netural, then start the engine, usually you can get the vehicle into gear with the engine running. But you will need to get that overheated item fixed, and find out why the brake light fuse keeps blowing (probably because of that overheated item). If your brake lights are not working, then I suggest that you have someone follow you to the repair place, so they will know your brake lights are not working and will be looking for your hand signal out the window as you drive.
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
Had similar problem on a chevy, workhorse MH not shifting out of park. Turned out to be a rectangular plug like plastic connector at bottom of steering column had overheated plastic and prong type connector. Hooked a new connector in and all aok. I did smell a burning before it bit the dust. Sorry, not able to better label part. Good luck.
Don't really know, but I'm going to guess that it's some sort of safety switch, which keeps you from shifting out of Park, if for instance, the support jacks are down? I'm sure the guys at Ford can tell you....or at least make some thing up that sounds real official...LOL
Sorry about the tree incident....but as they say, it's not about if you'll do some damage, but when!
Bill, Claudia, and the Paps
DH Bill / DW Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris The Paps! Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie and Annie
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April Fools Day, 2008 The Pets
I rather doubt that Ford would tell you very much about your Chevy. It does sound possible that your brake lights could have something to do with the problem. I don't believe you can shift out of park without applying the foot brake. If the brake light switch is the trigger for the park interlock and is somehow not functioning, it could get hot and also stop you from shifting out of park. Not sure how unplugging it could help though without looking under there.
I think the item that is hot to the touch is a solenoid, which actuates an interlock on the key switch. It is sposed to keep you from starting the vehicle if it is in gear I believe. We hear about them every so often when people are chasing AutoPark malfunctions - - but they have no relationship to AutoPark.
Seems to me I once chased down the circuit on it for someone - - quite some time back and I THINK I came to the conclusion that the solenoid was powered most of the time - - explaining why it runs warm. CRS kicking in here.
The reason for spelling is so that all of the words don't look the same.
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