I started having trouble with the truck only starting in neutral and it was a trick to get it to start even then. I bought a new range sensor, bolted her up (with alignment marks in neutral) and she's still doing the same thing. Any ideas?

 

Is your gear shifter suffering from excessive mechanical play?

 

Yes. But all had been working up to this point. Even with new switch it's tricky finding the spot in neutral where it will start.

 

1997 ford shifter tube - Bing Images

As projectSHO89 stated shifter screws may come loose. Older models also had tubes that would break. Nylon bushing screws can come loose and the bushing may squeeze out as well.

 

Then your problem is either loose Torx-headed linkage screws or worn out shift tube bushings.

The switch isn't what's faulty.

 

The tube doesn't appear to be broken but the bushings are pretty much gone. Is there a switch in the linkage that controls start in park? It will only start in neutral.

 

The switch is on the transmission.

 

That's what I was thinking. So, what would prevent it from working. I suppose I could put the tranny in the park position with the shift linkage disconnected from the transmission to verify what's going on. It's really been an irritating endeavor with the other transmission troubles I'm having.

 

If the bushings are gone, the linkage can't put the lever on the transmission into the correct position for PARK.

Repair the sloppy linkage problem (bushings), verify the Torx-headed screws are secure, and that the linkage is properly adjusted and your park problem is fixed.