So, I disassembled the steering column hoping to find some frayed wires or chaffed wires heading to the OD switch, Nothing. They look good and so does the insulation going as far as I can see into the column. I took the switch out and tested it. I am getting inertmittent connecion from 2 of the (There are 3) contacts when I press the switch in while using a continuity tester on it. I am going to order a new switch.

In the mean time, Can I drive the van without the switch pluged in?


Thanks.

 

Sure, you'll just loose the OD cancel feature.

IIRC, you have to order and replace the whole shift lever.

 

Oreillys has the switch only but I should probably do the whlole lever, I just dont know where the switch connects to down the steering column. I dont want to remove the gauges and dismantle whe whole dash.

The switch is only like $9 if it doesnt work then I will proceed further.

Thanks.

 

Did you take the covers off and look? It's very obvious, at least on the next generation of Ford trucks and vans.

 

I had it apart but was looking for chaffing or broken wires and didnt find any so I became less interested in changing out anything. I saw that the wires go atop the steering column under the gauges but could not see where they went from there.
Since then I found online that on some trucks and other ford models that have the same OD button/gear selector, the wire connector is under the steering column.
I have replaced the column covers.