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Starting problem after column rebuild

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Old Jul 11, 2007 | 11:20 AM
  #1  
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Starting problem after column rebuild

I'm finally starting to put my steering column back in my truck and I've encountered a problem. As luck would have it, I realized I forgot to put a spring in so I have to tear it back out again...

The problem is when in park I used to have to really push the automatic lever into park and hold it there while turning the key to get the truck to start. After putting things back together and trying, it does appear as if this "trick" seemed to work anymore. Granted I did forget one of the springs in the tilt flange but I don't think that this is my problem.

My question is what mechanism allows the truck to start while the truck is in park? Is it something in the electrical plastic piece in the column or is it something in the transmission? I'm wondering if there is one more piece that I might need to replace?

Thanks for any assistance!

-Jeff
 
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Old Jul 11, 2007 | 11:46 AM
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From: Jackson,Tn
i have to push my lever up and push it toward the dash to start my 77 , i thank its just b/c somethin is wore out ... maybe somebody else can help more
 
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Old Jul 11, 2007 | 12:14 PM
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Your neutral saftey switch needs adjusted.

Or you can bypass it really easy. It is on the column in my 76 F150. Mine doesn't have tilt, and the 77 and ups had a different column, so you might have to search for it.

You should also be able to start in Neutral. Have you tried that?
 
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Old Jul 11, 2007 | 01:08 PM
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From: Jackson,Tn
weres the NSS in the 77 colum ???
 
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Old Jul 11, 2007 | 05:35 PM
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It should be mounted at the base of the column (inside cab) with 4 wires running to it. 2 are for the reverse lights. 2 are for the neutral lockout.

Your Haynes will tell you how to adjust it. The pin that sticks out of the column on mine was busted off. So I just bypassed it.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 12:14 AM
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From: Jackson,Tn
can i just unhook it ???
 
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 12:36 AM
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no. you have to connect the two wires for the NSS. If you trace the wires up to the harness under the dash, there is a connector... looks like a 4 pin trailer connector. Unhook and jumper the two wires for the NSS. A short piece of wire with bullet connectors on each end should work. Your reverse lights will not work anymore.

This is a temporary fix! I did this as a band-aid until I can rebuild the column. It is dangerous, especially if your Park-pawl is worn (most are).
 
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 09:58 AM
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Well, before I started taking the column back out to put in the spring I forgot, I tried starting in neutral. Any it doesn't appear to start the truck... Now I'm a little concern. Is there anything else in the column that might not allow the truck to start? I'm almost wondering if the NSS may have been going bad and with me tinkering around the column and such it may have completely gone bad...
 
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 10:20 AM
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I don't believe there is anything else that would mess it up. The NSS is on the column... did it get plugged back in?
 
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by czaroc
It should be mounted at the base of the column (inside cab) with 4 wires running to it. 2 are for the reverse lights. 2 are for the neutral lockout.

Your Haynes will tell you how to adjust it. The pin that sticks out of the column on mine was busted off. So I just bypassed it.
D0TZ-7B097-A .. The "pin" that was busted off...is still available from Ford.

Steering columns changed in 1978, not 1977.

>>> Neutral switch mounted on column = 1973/77. On the transmission in 1978/79. <<<

1973/77 F100/350 C7TZ-7A247-A .. Neutral Switch-Column Mounted C4 or C6 (Motorcraft SW-600)

1978/79 F100/350 D8TZ-7A247-A .. Neutral Switch-Trans Mounted C6 (Motorcraft SW-1489)

1978/79 F100/350 D8TZ-7A247-B .. Neutral Switch-Trans mounted C4 (Motorcraft SW-1491)
 

Last edited by NumberDummy; Jul 12, 2007 at 10:42 AM.
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 10:46 AM
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Appreciate the part numbers! I have a '79 with it being on the transmission itself. I had a feeling before going down this road that something was breaking... I'll see if I can replace it and see what happens... Thanks for the help as usual!


-Jeff
 
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 03:47 PM
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From: Jackson,Tn
my backup lights aint worked since i got the truck , all the wires are hooked up , and all new bulbs , and fuses .... and i can start my truck in Neutral ... wats the problem ?
 
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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 05:09 PM
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The NSS on the column has two sets of contacts in it, one for the reverse lights and the other set for the safety switch. My '76 had the same problem you describe so I took the switch apart carefully and cleaned the contacts and repositioned the ball bearing shaped contact in the switch and it's been fine going on 2 years now back up lights and all.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2007 | 04:43 PM
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From: Jackson,Tn
thanks man ill check that ....
 
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Old Jul 20, 2007 | 05:04 PM
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Just wanted to make a note and say thanks to everyone that pointed out the NSS part. Went and bought a new one and everything is back up and running.

Thanks again!

-Jeff
 
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