02-13-2013, 10:36 AM
Hey all,
My brother has been having a little trouble with his 1997 Ford Expedition. The column shifter for the automatic has been sloppy for a long time now but its finally reached to point of being a problem. When you try and put the truck in park, the shifter's position and the indicator by the gauge cluster show that it is in "P" but the transmission brake is not engaged and the engine will not crank if you are trying to start it (because of a safety feature that does not allow the car to be started unless it is in park). He has a technique of slamming the column shifter with force into park until it does engage and not parking on hills (just in case). From what I can tell, there is nothing wrong with the transmission and it is just the column shift linkage that is the problem.
Anyone have any experience with Ford trucks? It seems like a simple fix to me, probably just some broken or loose parts in the column, (F150 forums mention a couple of Torx head screws that easily come loose), but I'm tentative about messing around in the steering column for fear of setting off the theft sensors or something like that. Any suggestions, MM?
My brother has been having a little trouble with his 1997 Ford Expedition. The column shifter for the automatic has been sloppy for a long time now but its finally reached to point of being a problem. When you try and put the truck in park, the shifter's position and the indicator by the gauge cluster show that it is in "P" but the transmission brake is not engaged and the engine will not crank if you are trying to start it (because of a safety feature that does not allow the car to be started unless it is in park). He has a technique of slamming the column shifter with force into park until it does engage and not parking on hills (just in case). From what I can tell, there is nothing wrong with the transmission and it is just the column shift linkage that is the problem.
Anyone have any experience with Ford trucks? It seems like a simple fix to me, probably just some broken or loose parts in the column, (F150 forums mention a couple of Torx head screws that easily come loose), but I'm tentative about messing around in the steering column for fear of setting off the theft sensors or something like that. Any suggestions, MM?
Dylan "Drink" Beveridge
03 Subaru WRX
07 Kawi Ninja 250
03 Subaru WRX
07 Kawi Ninja 250