I have a 2003 Ford Windstar Sport van. I got in it to go uptown and it won't shift from park into reverse. I turned the wheels to see if that would help and nothing. The emergency brake isn't on. There are no lights showing on the dashboard to indicate there's a problem. Everything else is working fine. The lights come on radio comes on etc. What is wrong? Help!

Gearshift measurements on levers for shift are very tight , check measurements.

• Neutral safety switch sends a signal to the on-board computer to allow the engine to start and to engage the transmission
• When not replaced, vehicle may experience no start and/or transmission will not shift out of park.Here's the part Damon.

http://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/neutral-safety-switch/duralast-neutral-safety-switch/ford/windstar/2003/6-cylinders-4-3-8l-sfi/229240_0_0

Make sure u press the brake when shifting out of park

real easy one the brake light switch by the brake pedal is bad. Turn the key foward and put the shifter in N and then start the van!

The wheels turning opposite is normal. It's how the differential works. You need to get the transmission checked out by a qualified tranny person.

check the white plug on top of the transmission for contamination or loose/corroded connection

brake lights come on? if the brake pedel switch isnt working it wont let you out of park. also a steep hill can make it hard to move out of park.

Very common on this make and model trans, pump drive splines inside torque converter strip out and pump is not turning, Most times there is no damage to pump shaft. Remove trans and remove torque converter, inspect the splines at the very bottom of the hub hole. If stripped out inspected pump shaft splines which are the smaller center splines coming out of trans, if ok replace torque converter and re-install trans, change out fluid, clean any metal from magnet and replace filter, fill with fluid and verify proper operation.

These are common for the pump shaft splines stripping in the torque converter. The transmission will need to be removed to fix it. Before you condemn the trans, does the speedo move and the van doesn't or do you hear any grinding when you put it back into park? Or can you push the van in park (Broken CV shafts)?

it is either the shifter or the cable, I would go with a broken part in the shifter linkage. Detrim the steering column and see what shows up, very easy just 4 screw I think.