Shifter Hanging up
 

After setting over night, pushing the side button on the shifter after starting is very difficult to engage.. You really have to use a lot of force to push it in, to get the shifter into another gear.. And yes, we are pushing on the brake pedal at the same time.. I tried to disassemble the shifter but didn't get too far. Would the problem be in the brake switch? Tail lights work fine.. Any ideas? 97 cougar..

It could be the brake switch. If the solenoid isn't moving the latch pin out of the way, or the latch pin is bent. It could also be the internal cable from the button to the latch. (my terminology may be off on the parts)

I do know that it's a real booger to disassemble those types of shifters if you don't know how... and I don't know how.