here's the story ::



I heard/felt a click when I turned the ignition to start,
then there wasn't any resistance when i tried to turn the ignition again???

all the electrical works when the key is turned on, stereo, lights etc.,
at the final turn of the key, the switch needs another qtr revolution to start the engine....which it lacks, with the new switch, there was a little wire included, which i lost, would you know what the wire is for?

when turning ignition key, seems like the linkage is too short,
like it doesn't have enough length to turn the switch completely to start the engine,

If i dissconnect the switch from the column, I can start the engine if I manually turn the switch myself, the engine runs fine...

so thats why I thought it was the switch or ignition locking mechanism,
so I replaced both them, and thats not the problem....

and the column is locked, will not go into drive...

in the past day
an air pressure type noise is coming from the transfer case...

it will go into reverse, although it doesn't sound so good when i do that...
A guy who is interested in the truck, stopped the ford dealer, they said if the brake circuit isn't being completed , that could be the cause why it's locked out of drive?
so check the brake lights , they both work????

 

I haven't done this in an automatic but my 89 I had to replace this tiny part two or three times. All I remember of the part number is 3E715, and it's this little L type bracket that converts the rotary motion of the lock cylinder into a linear motion to move the rod. It breaks the curve and it will allow you turn the key, but not far enough to reach start.

The part that confused me the first time I had to replace it was, this part is only on the Tilt Column, but I didn't have a tilt lever. The column was tilt without a lever. So I got the part and took the column apart to get it in. It was a pain the first time, but rest it was only an hour job to do.

 

Thread moved to the '89 through '96 forum. And WELCOME to FTE

Sounds like ReAX already got the solution through

 

hello, thanks for the welcome...krewat
hello ReAX.... you know I did take a close look into the steering column and I found that little part 3E715, athough it did not look broken?

now about lining up the last tooth on the gear with the last notch on the actuator,

so the click i felt was the gear slipping on the notch, which caused the short throw

I have to check to make sure the gear and notch are alined correctly....

while I was investigating the workings, the tilt mechanism broke and 2 little pieces of metal fell out into my hand, then the little bar that pushes the mechanism came out,
time for a rebuild kit on the column....

does any of these issues cause the truck to lock in park?

 

There are safety lock outs which keep you from going into gear unless conditions (foot on brake) are met. If one of the pot metal pieces that fell out in your hands held it in place then the actuator wouldn't let you get out of park.

Just because it doesn't look broken, don't expect it to be right. There is no good reason that it would jump a tooth on the gear.

 

so mabe it 's the upper actuator that is broken? that would make sense the click was the break in the upper actuator which caused the short throw of the rod, and the breaking of the actuator causes the lock in park, I'll take a look,

 

Mine always broke where the bracket made a hard 90 degree bend right where the 1/4 loop met the square shaft. The picture doesn't show the part too well, but after my experience that's where I would look very carefully.

 

Hello Again, ok you were right, that little part u spoke of was broken, I just couldn't see it because the broken piece was stuck in the square shaft...
I picked up the part today, although , when i was trying to pull out the broken piece, it seems I don't have enough room to get the piece out, can u tell me what part of the column do i need to take apart, i noticed there are 4 allen head bolts on the back side near the actuator.. although not one of my allen wrenches fit.... do i have to disconnect the column at the firewall?
thanks,

 

If you pop those allens out the shroud around it should ease off. I can't remember if there was more under that shroud that had to be removed, but you should be able to see it better.