first, check your fuses. there is one fuse in the fuse panel that will stop the switch working next, turn ignition switch to on,do not start engine you should be able to put transmission in neutral you should be able to start engine and then shift transmission into gears this will generally fix the problem
The neutral safety switch, release switch, or brake switch is bad.
Many vehicles are equipped with a safety mechanism that requires you to press the brake pedal in order to shift out of park. Sometimes the release switch on the brake pedal wears or otherwise becomes out of adjustment, sometimes the switch fails and sometimes the release solenoid fails.
Switch that prevents gear shift lever from moving from "Park" position until brake is applied
If pressing the brake pedal does not allow a 2002 VW Beetle to shift there a problem with the brake switch. The switch acts as a safety when shifting a vehicle and if it malfunctions the transmission will not be able to shift out of park.
its probably your brake light switch. jiggle the little sensor connected to the top of the brake pedal.
I am not sure but there should be a switch by the brake pad to release the safety neutral switch to allow you to shift. Try that.
On a 2002 Ford Focus, the neutral safety switch is located below the brake master cylinder. It is situated right under the shift linkage,, on top of the transmission.
your problem could be a safety switch located close to the brake pedal. When you apply the brake you should here a small tick
I hear there was a problem with the parking switch. The parking switch (what I call it) is the mechanism that is connected to the brake which would need to be depressed before you could shift out of park. It is a safety feature. So basicaly when you would push in the brake pedal the switch would not activate and therefore you could not shift out of park. FYI there is a recall on the parking switch.
The shift level is locked by the shift solenoid. When you step on the brake, the brake switch sends power to the shift solenoid and it moves a lever to unlock the shifter. If either the switch or solenoid is bad, you can't shift out of park.
brake switch
neutral safety switch