2001 F350 4door, dually, 7.3, 2WD, Auto

Okay here is what we have done. This is one of our company trucks and it had trouble staying in park and or gear. I had never messed with one before, boss told me adjust linkage on the tranny. Did that but still wasn't right. Pulled dash plastic, plastic on the steering column, ignition switch (had to so I could remove plastic), and took the four nuts off the column and laid it down in my lap. Looked around and found that the bracket on the rear of the shifter rod where the cable comes in was loose. Two T-30 screws and it was all good. Put it all back together...everything went fine...nothing odd or out of place.

Here is the kicker. After it is all together...the whole system turns on and off and will not stop. Just like you are turning the key on and off. All relays, lights, gauges, dome lights....on and off. Well I first think I've pinched an wire bolting the column back up...nope...checked all the harnesses, plugs, pulled on the harness and wiggled to see if I could find a short and no change. Ignition switch seems to work...turns it all off...then you turn it on and it comes on but then starts going on and off. Take tumbler out and it still does it.

We are a large truck shop, I work on CATS and Kenworths everyday....but this has be stumped. I haven't worked on it since sat. Happened at the end of the work day sat. Is there something on the column that would cause this?? Any ideas?? Seems to me it going to be in the circuit that turns everything on from the ignition switch since it effects everything. I don't know. First time in a superduty.

Thanks everyone!

 

Peach Grower, I've moved your thread to the 1999 - 2003 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel forum. Your issue isn't necessarily powertrain specific but these folks are more likely to answer sooner and with better information.

 

?????

Just a shot in the dark here. Mine has a Ford branded, after-market anti-theft module in it. it's located behind the lower dash in front of the driver's right knee. The truck won't start unless you hit the unlock button on the key fob. If I hit the door lock button on the fob or the door while engine running, it'll start clicking and clacking and flashing lights and stuff. Drove me crazy for months trying to find an answer, but never did. I redid most of the jankie wiring connections to it and it seemed to help some, but never fully got rid of it. Dealers, and Ford headquarters all treated me like I was crazy, disavowing any knowledge of such a thing, even though it's definitely got a Ford emblem on it. To end the story, it'll stop the clicky-clacking by simply hitting the unlock button on the fob, I gave up trying to fix it.
Anyway, likely no help to you, but thought I'd throw it out there. ()
Good luck to you.

 

We were thinking that also but it doesn't have a system on it. Will give that a shot. Will see if it has the module you are talking about. Thanks.

 

Thanks PS72!

 

Maybe you're dealing with a lost FOB (pull fuse to GEM or pull batteries for reset?). I have a FOB, but I never use it because it's a pocket-filler.

When you've returned from that adventure, the linkage adjustment is on the transmission end.

 

I knew where the linkage adjstment was....that wasn't the problem...the problem was the two screws on the cable bracket. Where the shift rod goes down the column. We adjusted the linkage in hopes of curing the problem but it didn't. So we investigated the shifter and found the loose bracket. That end is fine now....we just have this crazy electrical issue now. Did not mess with any wiring what so ever. Nothing was ever in a bind or anything. Very frustrating.

We did disconnect batteries for reset...still same problem.

 

OK... I saw no mention of working on the other end, so I just wondered. I've read a few posts where the wires on the steering column can chafe and get exposed to make a short. You might be experiencing this. Somebody here might know more about it than I do.