I have a '97 F150 Lariat Ext cab, 5.4, 2Wd, 175K, a bit rusty but for the most part functional. Unit is parked for long periods of time.

I have used this site in the past for help with great success, however I have spent several hours searching the site for answerers to my current problem to no real success, hence this rather long post.

3 - 4 years back the gear shift did not want to go into PARK and and the gear indicator was out of register. Unit would not start and I had to move shift lever to N to start. Fixed the two screws on shift plate/column per this site. Then 18 months ago same thing begin to occur but this time I used blue thread lock to hold screws in place. Still had to throw into park to get it to stay.

6 months ago shifter became very difficult to move and near impossible to get into PARK. When in PARK the interlock must have not been engaged so had to move to N or push lever hard into PARK to start.

Tired of this so I cruised the site and found several posts on taking dash apart, repairing a broken shift tube and or replacing bushings.

Battery disconnected, dash apart, cluster out, steering wheel still on and steering column still in position. Shift tube appears OK, i.e. not broken as in one post, bushings appears OK as there is no play or slop evident, but I cannot get the shift lever to move from PARK, period.

When the shift lever is pulled toward the wheel, a pawl on the tube causes a plastic or nylon arm to move about 90 degrees. It must be a stop or safety of some sort. I have not dug deep enough to see the shift plate with the two screws. At 75 I find it difficult to lay upside down to reach and hope I can get to them from the top.

Questions;
1. How do I get it out of PARK to check all things on shift tube and gear selector units?

2. Does the battery need to be connected for the interlocks to function?

3. Do I need to drop the column to check on shift tube items?

4. With a rusty trans, can the shift cable to trans connection be the problem?

5. I am sure I am missing a lot and invite all suggestion on what to look for, how to repair. etc.

 

you do know that if the shift lever won't move, you have to have the battery connected
the key in the start or run position the brake pedal has to be pressed and the stoplights must work.

 

Turn the key to the first position past LOCK and you don't need power to disengage the shift lock if the mechanism is working. The electrical shift lock actuator only operates when the ignition is in RUN, then releases when the BRAKE LAMP signal is made true.

 

Check to make sure you have Brakelights, If thats good go under the dash and see where the shift cable comes up though the floor board, left side of column. Follow that to the shift lever, gold colored, that bolts to the steering column, make sure that is tight, there are 2 t-25 torks bolts that hold that in, they are known for falling out all the way or loosening to the point the metal shaft and spring wont allow the shirt Inter-lock to release, Its tight down there but get a good flashlight and you will see what in talking about, then wiggle the shifter, while watching the cable or reach in and grab the lever and see if it wiggles,m you can tighten those bolts while under the dash, its tough but 1/4 swivel wrachet if it's tight, then seperate to 2 halfs of the upper column and see what broke or rather how bad did it break.

 

Key in "ON" allowed shift lever to move, however very hard to move.

Disassembled dash and dropped the steering column.
Cable bracket screws were loose AGAIN.
Tightened and thread locked.
Noting appears to be broken or missing.
Shift still very hard.

Removed the transmission shift cable from stud on bracket.
Column shifter worked very easily and smoothly when unhooked.

Problem now shifts to either the cable or the transmission linkage or the transmission itself.

 

Disconnect the shift cable at the transmission and retest. That will tell you if you have a binding cable/linkage or if it's in the transmission.

 

97 F150 5.4, 176K, Unit will not come out of Park.
Column shift mechanism OK, all moves freely when cable unhooked under dash or at transmission.
Still stuck in Park.

Tried to rock truck incase park pall stuck, no luck.

Sugestions?

 

Pull the DTR switch off and see if it's jammed. If it isn't, the problem is internal to the transmission.