Ford FreestarThe Ford Freestar is a solid, highly capable minivan that performs well and offers all the latest safety features. Much of the Freestar's structure and design came from the Windstar it replaced. Windstar offered class-leading safety and solid performance for its time. Freestar is the highest quality minivan it has ever built.
Two new problems on this fine piece of machinery called a Monterey.
1) At times, when trying to shift out of park, the gearshift is extremely tight, like it doesn't want to move, and I almost have to force it down into drive. Doesn't happen often but I could swear there's a correlation as to when I'm parked on an incline. Am I crazy that they're related? Why can't I shift out of park?
2) Very strange occasional thumping, clunking sound from the rear of the van when driving at slow speeds usually shortly after releasing the brake pedal.
Two new problems on this fine piece of machinery called a Monterey.
1) At times, when trying to shift out of park, the gearshift is extremely tight, like it doesn't want to move, and I almost have to force it down into drive. Doesn't happen often but I could swear there's a correlation as to when I'm parked on an incline. Am I crazy that they're related?
Absolutely they are related ! Even on a small incline the car will roll a fraction and put a large load on the parking pawl pin (that is the part inside the transmission that prevents the car from moving when in park).
__________________ Peace, it's our only chance
1998 E150 Club Wagon, 4.6L Modular, E4OD
2007 Milan. 3.0L Duratec, Aisin 6 speed AW-F21 others I look out for
2007 Escape 2wd (the mini Pumpkin), 3.0L Duratec, CD4E
2008 Mazda3 5 door, 2.3L, 5 speed manual
Ok, so you guys are saying the shift out of park thing is normal when on an incline. Is it hurting the tranny, though? I frequently have to park on an incline when I visit the mother-in-law. No other place to park. I feel like I'm hurting the gear shifter or the tranny with the unsmooth shift. I already just put in $2500 to this tranny and don't plan on having it happen again anytime soon.
Oh ok. I think I get it. You mean when parking, engage the parking brake, before taking my foot off the regular brake. Right?
Hmm. I think that's what I always do anyhow, but it's still happening. I'll try it again I guess. Thanks for the advice guys.
I know you have had other tranny issues but this one isn't that critical, mechanically speaking. It is hard to tell without tearing your transmission apart but the park gear may be a bit worn or at some times not fully engaged. The gear is springloaded meaning you could put your shifter in park but the gear is not engaged; you can experience this when you shift the car into park while still moving, it makes a loud clicking noise as the gear skips.
I am speculating here but I would suspect that if enough pressure was applied to the parking gear it would disengage before breaking. The presence of the advice in all owners manual to always use the parking/emergency brake probably had something to do with this.
Shopping for new Ford can be a stressful experience especially if you don't have the right information. Our new car research center at CarEverything.com can help relieve this stress and bring the joy back to new car buying!
The Car Blog, or TCB for those who are acronymically inclined, is alive because some of today's top Web designers needed a place to drool and bitch about their motor vehicle obsessions.
Read the auto blog at Automotive.com to get the latest news and opinions, view the newest concept cars, and join discussions with auto experts from around the world.
Two New Problems 
Linear Mode
