97 escort LX wont shift into overdrive. Automatic, gear shifter doesn't lock. No lights coming on at all. No gear changing problem excelleration . to many RPMS over 50-55. ideas appreciated.

Start with checking the brake light switch.
follow the brake pedal up the metal arm until you see a little switch pressed against the metal arm.
When the brakes are pressed, the switch button extends and unlocks the shift lever and turns on the brake lights.
It is common for a little plastic piece to deteriorate and break away, causing the brake lights to stay on and can damage the shift lock solenoid.
Attached is a photo of the brake switch where it contacts the pedal arm.

There is a little snap cover beside the shifter. You can pry it open with a little flathead screwdriver and insert a thin object inside to release the shift lock and get out of gear until you find the fix.

Hi,its posible that the gearbox needs a new filter and new fluid,when thhese two things get old the gearbox wont shift propperly,also for a fuew quid you can buy some xado wich will also give smoother gear change and longer life,all the best.
(I would just like to make it clear I dont have anything to do with the componey I just know the stuff works)I use it all the time and swear by it.

If all is working well with the transmission. when you push the button and the light comes on, you should feel a down shift at higher speeds. the 3D light would come on. You are at that point out of overdrive. Pushing the button again, you would feel it going into to overdrive. This is normal

It has second gear start. To activate and provide extra traction when pulling out of snow and muddy ground. z28 have positive traction rears.

Does the shifter move - in other words, can you change the shifter position, but the car still stays in Drive? Or can you not move the shifter at all? A bit more information, please.

Check the help link mentioned below:----

Overdrive light in the dash blinks?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/overdrive-light-in-dash-blinks.html

--------

OD light flashing and transmission fluid leaking?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/od-light-flashing-and-transmission.html

----------

Also i suggest you to refer these gear shift issues, which are mostly noticed. These are direct links with appropriate solutions to the specific problems of gear ****.

GEAR SHIFT ISSUES

Gear indicator Shows "3" Instead Of "D"?

http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/07/gear-indicator-shows-3-instead-of-d.html

---------

2006 Chrysler 300c: Shifter Stuck in Park?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-chrysler-300c-shifter-stuck-in.html

----------

1998 Ford Expedition: Will not Shift Out of Park?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-ford-expedition-will-not-shift-out.html

---------

Car will not move when in gear?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/car-will-not-move-when-in-gear.html

-----------

Mercedes-Benz transmission sticks in first gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-transmission-sticks-in.html

----------

Mercedes Benz not engaging in first gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-not-engaging-in-first.html

----------

Chrysler PT Cruiser only goes in First gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/chrysler-pt-cruiser-only-goes-in-first.html

----------

Car is stuck in park and the shift will not move?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/08/car-is-stuck-in-park-and-shift-will-not.html

-------

2007 Ford Expedition: How to shift car in neutral with Dead Battery

http://www.howtorepairguide.com/2012/11/2007-ford-expedition-how-to-shift-car.html

--------

2002 Nissan sentra will not go out of park mode?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/2002-nissan-sentra-will-not-go-out-of.html

--------

Nissan Sentra stuck in park?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-sentra-stuck-in-park.html

---------

Car will not come out of Park?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-will-not-come-out-of-park.html

-----------

Automatic transmission will not go into high gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/automatic-transmission-will-not-go-into.html

----------

Car won't downshift sometimes?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-wont-downshift-sometimes.html

--------

Buick Park Avenue: Transmission will Not shift into drive?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-park-avenuetransmission-will.html

------------

No First gear Starts In Second Gear

http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-first-gear-starts-in-second-gear.html

-------

Ford Taurus won't shift from park?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-taurus-wont-shift-from-park.html

---------

2006 Ford F150: Will Not Shift out Of Park?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-ford-f150-will-not-shift-out-of.html

--------

Car Transmission will not go into Park mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-transmission-will-no-go-into-park.html

----------

1998 Chrysler Voyager: Transmission Problem?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-chrysler-voyager-transmission.html

------

Shift indicator directly goes to 2nd when key is turned ON?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/shift-indicator-directly-goes-to-2nd.html

--------

Third gear missing and engine losing power?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/third-gear-missing-and-engine-losing.html

--------

Chevrolet silverado has whining sound in gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/chevrolet-silverado-has-whining-sound.html

----------

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71: Gear shift Issue?

http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/2002-chevrolet-avalanche-z71-gear-shift.html

----------

Hard to shift gears on Manual transmission?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/hard-to-shift-gears-on-manual.html

--------

Car hard shift at slow speeds?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-hard-shift-at-slow-speeds.html

---------

Transmission-Hard To Down Shift

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/07/transmission-hard-to-down-shift.html

---------

Automatic transmission shift lever hard to move on cold mornings?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html

------------

2000 Nissan maxima shifts hard?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/2000-nissan-maxima-shifts-hard.html

-------

Vehicle noticed sluggish delayed shifts while driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-noticed-sluggish-delayed-shifts.html

-------

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe: Will not Shift out of Park Mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/2007-hyundai-santa-fe-will-not-shift.html

These details will help.

Thanks.

The 1st thing you need to do is check the brake lights, if they are not wiorking the park lock solenoid doesn't get power and the park lock remains engaged.

For Automatic transmission problem,click the link below:----Overdrive light in the dash blinks? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/overdrive-light-in-dash-blinks.html
--------- Automatic transmission troubleshooting:----

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/automatic-transmission-will-not-go-into.html

---------
Automatic transmission shift lever issues?-------

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html

-----------
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL? --

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-check-automatic-transmission.html

--------------

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-change-automatic-transmission.html

-----------
Transmission fault light on car dash?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/transmission-fault-light-on-car-dash.html

--------
Transmission shifting problem?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/transmission-shifting-problem-on-toyota.html

--------
Transmission Slips out of 2nd gear?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/transmission-slips-out-of-2nd-gear.html

-----------
OD light flashing and transmission fluid leaking?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/od-light-flashing-and-transmission.html

----------
Why Transmission fluid leaks near radiator?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/transmission-fluid-leaks-near-radiator.html

----------
Transmission fluid leaking?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-windstar-transmission-fluid.html

-------------
****** wont go in reverse?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/dodge-neon-wont-go-in-reverse.html

-------------
Automatic transmission will not go into reverse?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/dodge-automatic-transmission-will-not.html

----------
Transmission is making buzzing noise?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/transmission-is-making-buzzing-noise.html

-----------

This will help.

Thanks.

There isn't anything wrong with your car. This is perfectly normal. I have a 2000 ES300 as well as other people that I know and it operates in the same way. Overdrive doesn't mean the same thing for every car or transmission. In our case overdrive is simply a reference to the top gear which is 4th gear. When you switch overdrive off(which is depressing the button causing the O/D OFF dash light to illuminate,) the highest gear becomes 3rd because you turned 4th gear or overdrive off. The application scenario for this is usually mountainous terrain where a lot of uphill driving makes it more feasible not to up shift into 4th gear while ascending and descending. It will not switch back to overdrive or 4th gear until you re-engage it by turning the overdrive back on or repressing the button. Again, when the O/D OFF dash light is illuminated, overdrive which is 4th gear is off and the highest gear will then become 3rd. It will never shift into 4th gear while this light is illuminated or overdrive is off. When you press the button and the O/D OFF dash light is NOT illuminated overdrive is on and therefore it will shift into 4th gear as usual. This applies to all 97-2001 ES300's and probably any other car you drive tat exhibits this same type of change when overdrive is turned off.

sorry only ever seen a manual here in spain but it sounds like a solonoid is gummed up underneath,where it would be i dont know .