1998 f150 automatic w/4.6l engine lariat 4x4 w/appx 110,000 miles and most power options. a few days ago i couldnt get key out of switch after shut off, kept turning and moving until it came out. all has been ok until this morning when i tried to start and it feels like it isn't in park because i cant turn the key quite far enough. all power ok and everything else comes on. eventually got it to move gear selector to neutral and back to park with no luck. i dont think it matters but it has always chimed with door open and NO key in ignition for as long as i have owned it (1yr) and no chime with key IN ignition and in run position. any help appreciated since its 10 degrees outside and i am already late for the boss.

 

Hi and welcome to the forum

Sorry that no one replied earlier.
Did you get it figured out yet?
If you remove the covers off the column you should be able to see what the problem is. There is an actuator rod in between the ignition lock cylinder (where you put the key in) and the ignition switch which is mounted further down on the column. If the rod moves but the switch still doesn't work then the switch is probably shot. If the rod doesn't move then either it's broken or the lock cylinder is no good.

 

Thanks racerguy,
I did get it figured out by getting previously posted info from different areas in this forum. I pulled the plastic and got the key/guts out all the while listening to that annoying chime . I didnt see anything at first and got ready to pull the actual lower switch but the chime stopped after I bumped my head on the steering wheel. I started looking harder for the cause of that and found a small greyish plastic clip at the top of the barrel (that the key/guts came out of) with a black/red striped wire that had come loose and was grounding the small metal contacter to the barrel body. That was the apperant cause of the chime being on with no key. I tried to reattach it but it was missing a very small tang of plastic that held it in place. As you have probably guessed by now the plastic tang was jambed up inside the guts of the key switch and was binding it up. Thanks again for your info and all the other excellent info I have read from this site. It is amazing the amount of time and effort I have saved by reading other posts and replies from here.

 

Thanks for letting us know what you found and feel free to post again with any questions or answers you have

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...15&page=1&pp=6

I had the same problem with my 97 F150. Solved it with $.02 worth of epoxy.