HELP? F-150, 1997, 5.4, 4x4,Auto,Ext Cab, XLT I am having a shifting problem. When starting out the truck will not shift out of 1st., the speed-dometer will not work and the Odometer doesn't register any milage. Then out of the blue the truck will shift and run fine or maybe a day or two and then the same thing. Sometimes the truck will be running fine and then will shift down and not shift out of 1st again. There is not Service light on the dash and the OD light does not give a code. I have had it to two tranny shops and they ruled out the transmission as a problem. Had the ABS sensor replaced on the rear axel. Had the speed sensor replaced on the side of the transmission at an electrical shop. Still the same problem. Took it to a Ford dealer and the same code appears P0500 and they got to see the problem in action. They replaced the connector running to the speed sensor but didn't fix the problem. Today they replaced the speed sensor again and I drove it for about 7 miles and made one stop and then the same thing started over again. The electrical shop ruled out the dash cluster because the speed-dometer and the odometer both did not work at the same time. Has anyone out there had this problem or does anyone have any ideas..........
I NEED HELP,,,,,,,,,Thanks for listening.

 

Sounds like a question for one of the F-150 Forums.

FWIW, I've heard of shifting concerns and P0500 codes popping up on the Ranger, and like the F-150 the ABS Speed Sensor on the rear diff is usually the culprit. However, another fairly common cause of the same problem is moisture getting into certain harness connectors both inside and outside the truck. There is even a TSB on it for certain year Rangers.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...2&postcount=10

I have no idea whether something similar could happen on an F-150, so like I said, take it FWIW.

Good luck.