I got in the truck, started it warmed it up, grabbed the shifter to put it in reverse and it broke.
It has been sticking, but a little wiggle usually pops it loose. This time a little wiggle snapped something. It kept on running just fine.

What would have most likely broke along the linkage?
Other than just starting to take it all apart I have no idea where to look for the cause of the occasional sticking or where it would have broke.

I sat there for about 5 minutes just looking at the thing in disbelief.

 

I am suspecting that the shift cable failed and needs to be replaced as a unit.

Im sure someone can give you more info/ideas if you post a year/model/engine/etc.

 

No this broke up on the column, likew the gear shift broke off of.... something.

I'll take it apart tomorrow. I know a junkyard that has a lot of dead rangers.

I have a headache.

 

OH, didnt understand. Thats worse....

I can imagine why you have a headache!

 

I took it apart some.... there is a pot metal tube that looks broken about halfway down thats why its sloppy and wont shift.

Now the key is stuck on because I cant move the shifter to unlock it.

I'll drop the column tomorrow.

Now I wonder what made it get stuck in park all those times when you had to wiggle it to get it out of park? I guess I will find out when I dissect it.

I need a diagram.

 

my granddaughters 97 mountaineer just went thru this the shaft down the column broke,,, she ended up haveing to replace the entire steering column...tip.. oil and lube up the replacement column,, the 2 bolts at the bottom that connect to shifter put locktite on and tighten that is why hers broke in first place she started haveing trouble shifting and she would slam it hard to go into gear and after a few weeks it broke shaft,,,good luck,,she had to pay 75 for a used column,, hope can get yours that cheap,,,

 

oh I think I can just replace the shift tube. Thats only around $30.
Why would you need to replace the whole steering column?

 

the bushings and the shaft were just so messed up,, apparently the nylon bushings had been wore or like the bottom one just gone,, probably why the 2 bolts at bottom came loose,,it being wobbly and all,,,,like i said make sure ya lube it up good

 

I havent got to it yet, the shift tube just came today so I might get into it tomorrow.

In the meantime I have been reading, and these trucks have an idiot safety called a Shift Interlock Actuator on the tube, that prevents you from shifting it out of park if the brake lights are non functional... Mine work fine.

So, if the new tube is still stuck, the most likely culprit is a stuck/defective Shift Interlock Actuator.

I fail to see why you cant defeat/hack the thing. All it does is shove a wedge in the shift tube and lock it. If you were to take the thing OFF and tie it back somewhere, it wouldn't interfere with anything. It's not preventing it from starting and running its sole use is to jamb up the shiftier to keep you in park.

If I can reach it, it should be simple to mechanically defeat, with a zip tie or simply removing the unit from the column.

Or clip the tooth that goes into the shift tube slot off.

I don't feel like spending $60 on a part that is just there to keep me from shifting into gear. You have to pull the shifter back to get it to go in gear anyway, is that not enough "safety"?

Yeah I know its to keep little kids from doing it. I dont have kids and the truck will be cannibalized when it no longer runs.

Anyone here ever defeat one of these pesky things?

 

Ok it's fixed and the evil thing has been disabled.
Ok its been unbolted and set off to one side out of the way where it can malfunction all it likes. It would seem that it sticks, so the plunger is probably worn out... even though it works, sometimes.

Taking it off and tying it up put of the way seem to have no effect on the starting and running of the truck at all. Good.

Here is a few pics. The evil thing is bolted right onto the same bolt that hold on the shifter position lock. If it is in park, the solenoid is active, pushing the lock tooth in behind the selector. When you put on the brake the evil thing relaxes and lets the shifter push it out of the way.

What can possibly go wrong, right?

Well had I had to take my old mom to the hospital on the spur of the moment as happens sometimes, I'd have been in a world of hurt. These things get people killed.... not to mention they are stupid.

If your shifter is stuck in park, it's fairly easy to drop the column and remove this evil POS. If your shift tube is broken, it's not hard to replace, and you have to remove this evil thing to do it so... leave it off.

Once you drop the column down, its right there in the back by the tail end of the tube. You'll find it. As you can see from the pics, its only function is to lock the shifters locker in the park slot and prevent it from being taken out of park unless you hit the brake.

Mine is now harmlessly dangling under the dash. Years of wiggling the shifter to get it out of park weakened and cracked the tube that finally just shattered. (thin aluminum or pot metal.... go figure).

God forbid they make out out of steel so it doesnt break.

Oh do be warned, with it not in place you can (after you pull the shifter back to..... unlock it) shift into gear with your foot OFF the brake pedal. If you are the kind of person who didn't learn to put your foot on the brake when shifting out of park, you might wanna just go buy a new one and replace it.