Have to push and hold shifter in park to start engine whats wrong

push on brake pedal and move the shifter park neutral. Into park and try to remove the key now.

1 Set the emergency brake.
2 Insert key into the ignition and turn the ignition switch to the "ON" or "RUN" position. It is not necessary to start the engine.
3 Locate the shift lock override slot located on the shifter console near the shifter lever. Normally, the slot is plugged with a small plastic cap. Remove the cap.
4 Insert a small screwdriver, nail file, key or similarly shaped object into the override slot, push down and hold
5 While continuing to hold down the shift override mechanism, depress the brake pedal.
6 Now, grasp the shifter, push in the release button located on the shifter as you normally do and then move the shifter to the desired gear. If you've completed these steps with the engine off, move the shifter to the Neutral position to start the engine.

Dont know if this helps

Ford Escape Questions - shifter stuck in park - CarGurus

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CarGurusFeb 2, 2015 - shifter stuck in park - Sometimes my shifter is hard to get out of park. what would cause this, and how would I fix it?

Ford Escape Questions - SHIFTER - CarGurus

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CarGurusOct 28, 2011 - 1 out of 1 people think this is helpful. ... 2011 FORD ESCAPE WILL NOT GO IN TO GEAR DEALER SAID COFFE SPILLED IN IT . ... shifter stuck in park 13 answers ... Other times (and it's getting more often), I have to push and push (and keep pushing) the gear shifter ... 2012 Ford Escape XLT For Sale.

'01 Escape Stuck in Park; safety interlock - Ford Truck ...

www.ford-trucks.com > ... > Escape & Escape Hybrid

Chris: According to MyAutomaticTransmission.com: "Shifter Lever

Recognizing that you might one day find yourself in such a predicament, vehicle manufacturers incorporated a quick and easy method for manually releasing a shifter stuck in Park. Follow these 4 simple steps.

1. Set the emergency brake.

2. Locate the shifter lock override slot located on the shifter console near the shifter lever. Normally, the slot is plugged with a small plastic cap.

3. Remove the plastic cap covering the override slot and insert a key, nail file or similarly shaped object into the slot and push down.

4. While pushing down, depress the brake pedal, grab the shifter and push in the shifter lock button located on the shifter as you normally do and then move the shifter to the Neutral position. With the brake pedal still depressed, start the engine with the shifter in the Neutral position.

NOTE: If the shifter lever will still not move, repeat the process making sure to press down firmly on the locking mechanism and the brake pedal simultaneously as you attempt to move the shifter lever.


NOTE: Continuing to drive your vehicle in this condition will not cause any additional damage. You will just have to use this procedure to release the shifter each time you attempt to move the shifter out of the Park position." I hope this helps you!

I'm not sure what you mean the "clicking won't" but I do know that sometimes on my 98 the safety neutral won't engage.
I know, What?
Try pushing forward on your shifter when it's in park then try the key again.
If that doesn't work, look at your shifter and down on the trim that shows what gear your in, on the right side of the shifter you'll see a black, probably, plastic plug. Take your finger nail of a small screw driver and gentle pry it out. Now you'll have a hole and you will need something that will fit down in that hole like a screw driver, not really long one, and down in there is a button.
Find it and push down on it while pressing on the button of your shifter like taking it out of park. While you are pushing down on the button in the hole and taking it out of park, once you succeed in getting it out of park, give the shifter another good shove into park and try and start it again. This is called a saftey neutral lock out switch. I can usually just push on my shifter and turn the key again and it'll start. The first time it happened to me though, I was really messed up, I thought battery, starter, you name it, then it dawned on me, oh wow, that was a messed up deal for about a half hour because I was 300 miles from home and had just bought the car and didn't have a clue, I really hope this is your problem and helps. Good luck

Sounds like the sensor is not working on the gear shifter. It tells the ecu it is in park to allow the engine to start. That's where I'd start.

2002 chevy trailblazer on neutral mode, trailblazer can be pushed easily,but shifter is stuck on park. vehicle will start.the push button on shifter will not engage

does the gear shifter move? if the gear shifter moves and it wont shift then you have broken linkage, if it wont move you may have ignition linkage problems or the button may not be pushing in all the way, also the brake pedal is tied in too

Billettechnologies.com sells a replacement cog to put your shifter backinto action. Their part replaces a factory plastic piece...no wonderthese are failing at a fast rate.
Here is the LINK to make this change out of parts...

Hi there,

There are multiple things that must all happen in order for the shifter to move from park.

1. Make sure the key ignition switch is in the "Run" position (the position just before the "start" position).

2. Brake pedal is depressed (usually pushed in a couple of inches or more at least to release the button on the shifter).

3. Push in the button on the shifter and pull back (you may need to push the shifter slightly forward or back a little for the button to move freely).

If the button on the shifter still doesn't push in freely, there is a problem with the mechanical lock-out linkage or electronic switch that releases the button lock. Check under the dash area along the brake pedal arm for anything that doesn't look correct.

4. If the car is on an incline/slope/hill, it will put a lot of pressure on the parking pin in the transmission. Usually a strong tug or pull on the shifter will pull it out while you're pushing on the brake pedal to prevent rolling when it releases. Make sure to set the parking/emergency brake first to prevent this next time .

Good Luck!!

Thanks