My friends truck has an intermittent starting problem when in park. When in neutral it starts with no problem. Is there some type of contact/switch that wears out in the column? Can you replace it? Part #?

 

Is the shifter sloppy? If so tighten the alen head screws. Have someone wiggle the shifter so you can see where it runs into the firewall and you should see the screws/bolts

 

The switch you need to look at is the neutral saftey switch on the side of the transmission. It is black and on the drivers side. Its is easy to see just above the lip of the transmission pan.

The switch has marks on it for clocking it.
It may be as simple as adjusting it. Or cleaning the connection on it.
I just replaced mine got the new one at NAPA I think around $20

To adjust the switch just put the park brake on and put the trans in neutral. Then climb under the truck and make sure the alignment marks on the switch are correctly lined up.

Should look like this when properly aligned.

 

I would pull the cover panel under the steering wheel, then lay flt on the floor so you can look straight up at the steering column where it comes through the dash like john2001 said, there is a plate with 2 torx scres, 90% of the time, they are loose, or have fallen out, just tighten up, and walla, life is good. Just did this to a late 99 2 weeks ago.

 

Thanks for the advice guys!!

 

Let us know how it goes

 

This wasn't necessary when I did mine,just wedge yourself under the steering wheel and look up.T25 is the size torx you need.

 

If I wedged myself under the steering wheel, I might still be there now, lol Hope it is just the screws loose, seems to be rather common.

 

Heres a write up.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ng-column.html

 

hey, I recently have fixed a friend of mines truck with your solution, but I didn't replace it I put it in neutral and manually with it put it in park and it started up, will it become loose again?? if it does happen does this mean that I have to replace it?

 

Check the torx head screws under the dash first, probably will be your problem, it was mine. It's a easy fix.

 

 

 

I tighten the screws on mine about 6 months ago..... and that fixed the no start problem.