I have a 2001 Tribute and the shift lever will sometimes stick in park. When this happens, the only way to get it into another gear is by releasing it manually (by depressing the white plastic lever under the plastic door on top of the steering column). Once it is in gear, everthing seems to run perfectly. From my searches on the internet, it seems like the culprit may be the shift interlock solenoid? Anybody know what the part number for that solenoid is? Do you have to replace all the levers and solenoids etc.. that are housed under the steering column cover as well? Has anyone else had this problem and found it to be something other than the interlock solenoid? Thanks in advance for any help...

 

Do the brake light work?
No brake lights it won't shift out of park. Also you can set the Ebrake before starting and with the key in the run position you should be able to put the vehicle into Neutral and then start

 

Thanks for the response Siber. I checked and the brake lights are not coming on. I tried starting with the E-brake on, but that didn't work. I didn't specify, but I probably should mention that this is an automatic transmission. What would be the cause of the brake lights not coming on? I had no idea I was driving around without brake lights. Scary.

 

I would Say the fuse was blown, And normally you can put it in neutral will it is not running and then start.
If the fuses are good it is probably the brake light switch. I don't rightly know where it is in relation to the brake pedal.
I will check my repair CD and see if the FordEscape is on there.

 

As a follow-up for anyone else that may have the same problem:

It turned out to be a loose wire in the main fuse block under the dash. I discovered this by testing the fuse panel with my amp meter and noticing that there was no current to that location. Thanks to Siber for his help in halping me locate the problem.