**HELP, PLEASE!!!**

***I KNOW ITS A LONG READ BUT ITS KINDA INTERESTING AND A LITTLE BIT OF A STORY, PLUS I "REALLY NEED HELP"***

Ok folks, so I love this site/forum!! Last time I posted with my problem so many of you came to my help and I'm so appreciative!!! And AGAIN, I'm having an issue.... So I went to my doctor yesterday morning, drove there no problem.... Came out and started my truck (2001 F350 7.3 diesel crew cab long bed automatic transmission not a duely 356 thousand and some odd Miles) and it started no problem ''''BUT'''' i went to shift into gear but the column shift arm would not move...... I was like WTF now?!?!?!?(excuse my language, but lately it seems like something new wrong every few weeks) So I tried to remove the cover under the column and check the wires, then tried to remove battery cables(to see if something would reset) no luck.... Then I had the good idea to look it up and it took me to a link on here AGAIN!!(FORD FORUM TO SAVE THE DAY!!) It asks if break lights don't work then it's the break solenoid (which in tried to unplug and replug also, no luck) and to slightly turn key before the accessories turn on and then shift it.... Well, my break light DO WORK, BUT I tried it anyway ANDDDDD........ IT WORKED!!!! But as soon as I put it in park again I'm locked up, AGAIN!! 🤬🤬🤬.... So I'd have to do it all over AGAIN, shut truck off, slightly turn key, yada, yada..... And i do notice that I DONT hear the little click when I hit the break, to which I'm guessing that's would be the solenoid kicking in if I DID hear it......, so I'm going to guess that's what's wrong?????? IDK..... Can any one tell me??? ***ALSO***JUST TO NOTE, I THINK THE LINKAGE IS INCORRECT CAUSE when it WAS O.K.....(also I got this truck from my uncle which he inherited from when HIS dad when his dad passed, just to note) when you shift it, it only lines up in reverse. It's on the low side of park when in park & low side of neutral when in neutral and in OD or 1 or 2 I have no clue what it's in when in those 😆 😂.... I just feel for it on OD to know I'm good to go and it's in between OD and 2 usually when I'm good... HA!HA!HA!HA!HA! it's not funny but it kinda is at the same time..... 😐🫣..... And the one other thing that IDK if it's me or not ,but now, all of a sudden and like I say I'm not sure but when I'm driving at about 50 to 60 it feels like it should shift 1 MORE TIME, as at about 50 to 55 it's at 2000 rpms and only goes up as I go faster and feels like it's reving more ( it also sounds like I have fans kicking on in the first few gears and a LITTLE when I'm go at that higher speed) but it's a stock pulley fan..?!..?!...?!...(And it was making just the fan noise in the first few gears but only seemed to make that noise after I was driving on the freeway at about 70 for a good 20 mins omw home......So IDK.... IDK if I'm just playing tricks on my own mind cause of this shifter problem or if it really is something...... But IDK what to do......I'm pretty decent at working on older gasoline cars(mostly Chevys, as that's all I've ever owned till this truck, which j got about a year ago) but I'm a carpenter/electrician (21yrs) meaning: I'm pretty savvy at working with my hands... AND I'm a REALLY FAST LEARNER. But I know NOTHING about diesels except what I've learned of what's gone wrong with this truck that I've had to fihpop, non-serviceable plug, fuel line(s), tie rods, a couple hydrologic lines, head lights)😂, lol, dont laugh at me, only i can do that lol jk.... But if anyone can give me some insite or help or advice, I'd be very grateful as this is the ONLY vehicle I got, and I'm a single Father of a 7y.o. daughter and I'm on a very fixed incomes..... Please anyone..... I'd be eternally greatful 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

~Shane R~

 

Hi Shane.

You don’t have to start in park. They will also start in neutral. If you have that issue again and can get it out of park with a key trick you spoke of, start it in neutral instead. Due to your position issues you may have to wiggle it around to find the sweet spot.

I’d start by checking the 2 bolts under the column. I’ve read they’re torx head but seems the last ones I touched weren’t. Anyhow, if these are loose then it will make your shifter sloppy.

As for the not coming out of park… if the brake light is coming on then one of the other fellas will need to chime in. I’m of no help there.

It sounds like maybe it’s not going into TC lockup based on your rpm description. It feels like an extra gear. This can be caused if the brake lights are staying on. Does cruise control work?

 

I'll mention it just in case but it's probably not your issue this occasion: The clip that holds the end of the shift cable's housing to the bracket on the transmission can loosen and fall out. When that happens, all sorts of funky shifter behavior can occur.

 

I'm not going to read all of that.
Steering column fixes, check the 2 bolts at the bottom of the column. They are #30 torx and you need to remove 1 at a time and put some Loctite blue on them and tighten them. Also drop the column and check the shifter shaft bushings, plastic bushings under saddles on the top of the column, easy to replace sold in a Dorman kit. Last but not least is the plastic clip on the shift lever at the transmission where the cable attaches to the transmission.

 

Eman offered the probable fix, but he's right. You need some punctuation and paragraphs or folks will just skip right over that wall of text. English, it's what's for dinner!

 

when I see a huge block of text like that,
I skip the post,
too damn hard to figure out where I was , when my eyes lost the line I was reading.

Man, Format your Posts, or they are wasted.

Separate thoughts with a White Space line,
use commas and periods

 

Would this also be a cause of the shifter clicking while shifting. It feels like its binding up and clicks at each setting... P R D etc??

 

I am not sure I understand you. What you described sounds like how the shifter is supposed to work: clicking into each detent.

 

I tried to read all of that, but I couldn't.

If the shifter won't come out of park there is a work around. Turn the key ONE click towards on, but not enough to turn anything on. Now move the shifter to N. The solenoid to hold it in place won't work until the key is on. Now you can start it in neutral.