Couldn't get it out of park - got a little nervous!

[dfwrere]

I stopped for gas today in my 24 Lariat Hybrid. After filling up, my Mav wouldn't shift out of park after starting it. I had a check engine light on too. Turned it off and back on, and made double sure I had my foot on the brake, but the dial refused to turn. I started to get a little worried. I looked at the gas door since that was the only thing that had been different from 30 mins earlier when I started it at work. It appeared to be closed, and wouldn't pop open when I tugged on it, but just to be sure I pushed the button to open the gas door again then closed it and tried starting the truck up and shifting out of park. It worked that time! Whew! Not sure why the door didn't register closed the first time, but glad it did the second.

If you have issues with yours not shifting out of park, that's something to try.

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[Bigfoot7262]

Good to know, TY for posting this. This is my 3rd Ford with the capless fill and never heard of any of them throwing an engine code or staying in park because of the filler door.

 

[Dad]

Thanks for letting us know. No doubt someone here will experience same and having read your post will know how to solve it. You may or may not know that the hybrid's gas tank is pressurized and since it wasn't able to pressure the tank with your ill-fitting cover, it wouldn't allow driving.

 

[MO HORSE]

Last time I filled up I had similar problem. I just thought I had turned the vehicle off while in D, although it showed being in P when I tried to start it after fueling. When I turned it and removed the key then tried to start it again I had no problem putting in D so I think turning off and restarting is what allows operator to proceed normally but just a guess.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Good to know.

I disconnected my 12 v battery and reconnected it a few hours later.

On first startup it would not shift out of park. I had that same horrible "oh great" now what feeling.

Shut the truck off. Restarted, and all was fine. And has been fine since.

COMPUTERS ON WHEELS

 

[dfwrere]

Last time I filled up I had similar problem. I just thought I had turned the vehicle off while in D, although it showed being in P when I tried to start it after fueling. When I turned it and removed the key then tried to start it again I had no problem putting in D so I think turning off and restarting is what allows operator to proceed normally but just a guess.

I thought turning it off and back on would work, but it didn't.. mine has the keyless ignition though, so maybe that is the difference.

 

[Maverickman74]

Same exact thing was happening to a freind of mine when she rented 4xe wrangler while her taco was in the shop. She went and checked the gas cap(im calling the capless door a cap because i must) too and it worked. But it happened again and we noticed the door was not fully aligned, and of course we found that slamming the drivers door was the trick. Just like the guy the other day who had his slam into park when he opened his door while rolling. For some reason they dont want to risk people ghost riding.

 

[Maverickman74]

Good to know.

I disconnected my 12 v battery and reconnected it a few hours later.

On first startup it would not shift out of park. I had that same horrible "oh great" now what feeling.

Shut the truck off. Restarted, and all was fine. And has been fine since.

COMPUTERS ON WHEELS

I guess it beats hand starting the engine and lubricating the valves every 50 miles.

 

[NeedForSteve]

Good to know, TY for posting this. This is my 3rd Ford with the capless fill and never heard of any of them throwing an engine code or staying in park because of the filler door.

If you have an Ecoboost you won’t experience this specific issue. Hybrid trucks have a pressurized tank, so the door has to seal the filler neck shut otherwise the EPA gets angry.

 

[ianjay]

This never happened to my 23 XLT hybrid but started happening with the 24 Lariat hybrid recently. The XLT never got any of the recalls, but the Lariat has. I am on a trip to Florida and had the recalls done with the first oil change prior to the trip.
It just does it randomly, but so far has always reset after one or two shutdown and then restart sequences (even though there have been no engine lights).

 

[Moorparkmark]

I stopped for gas today in my 24 Lariat Hybrid. After filling up, my Mav wouldn't shift out of park after starting it. I had a check engine light on too. Turned it off and back on, and made double sure I had my foot on the brake, but the dial refused to turn. I started to get a little worried. I looked at the gas door since that was the only thing that had been different from 30 mins earlier when I started it at work. It appeared to be closed, and wouldn't pop open when I tugged on it, but just to be sure I pushed the button to open the gas door again then closed it and tried starting the truck up and shifting out of park. It worked that time! Whew! Not sure why the door didn't register closed the first time, but glad it did the second.

If you have issues with yours not shifting out of park, that's something to try.

Great tip and nice logical “troubleshooting” on your part.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I will add, if you get codes or messages about "check filler / check gas cap" Ford said to use the gas can white funnel adapter that comes with every hybrid and "Insert and remove five times" in a first troubleshooting attempt to get the capless filler neck to properly seal.

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