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Why won't my car go into park sometimes?

Occasionally when I stop my car (2005 Mercury Mariner), I think it's in park but the square isn't around the P and I am unable to remove my keys. Can anybody tell me why it won't go all the way into park?

Update:

I was just at the dealer on Friday and they said they didn't see a problem.

6 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Because it is a crappy automatic and you should be driving an manual.

    Serious answer:

    It could just be the linkage it dirty or loose. Or it could be a problem with the transmission. Most new auto trans are electronically controlled so it could be some sort of malfunction in the computer refusing to engage park. But if the car drives fine otherwise, it's probably the linkage. Your dealership is stupid if they didn't catch this, so go somewhere else to fix it.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    Car Wont Go Into Park

  • 1 decade ago

    There is a safety device installed in the shifting mechanism that it preventing it from going into park. It is there to prevent the accident of stopping and turning off your car while in gear and you leaving the vehicle and it rolling away or a child from putting it in gear without stepping on the break first. Take it to you mechanic to have it looked at.

    PS try stepping on your break and see if you can then put it in park.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Your transmission shifter linkage is out of whack. Easily adjusted at the dealer. Takes about half an hour.

  • 1 decade ago

    Hold down the break pedal, and then shift the knob into park

    then you can remove your key

  • 1 decade ago

    probably the linkage needs adjusted.

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