4R100 Shift Linkage
New User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Sloppy Shifter lever 01 f150
My sloppy shifter in my 01 f150 was easily fixed using your described procedure, in 5 minutes.
I used a tiny amount of blue loktite on each screw to keep them local.
Thank you very much
/ Ed
I used a tiny amount of blue loktite on each screw to keep them local.
Thank you very much
/ Ed
Marvin, there is a setup in the tech manual, I have done it a while ago, the shifter in a certain gear, weight on the lever, and then adjust..
But this is what I see in some trucks, underneath the dash, on top of steering column is a flange with two torx bolts, They come lose and the shifter gets a huge amount of slack in it, check/tighten the two screws, its hard to reach, if you can look up there and wiggle the shifter and you can see them..
Hope this helps.
But this is what I see in some trucks, underneath the dash, on top of steering column is a flange with two torx bolts, They come lose and the shifter gets a huge amount of slack in it, check/tighten the two screws, its hard to reach, if you can look up there and wiggle the shifter and you can see them..
Hope this helps.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
I am going to check these bolts tonight b/c my shifter has a lot of play and won't let me go into manual first so i figure it needs to be adjusted.
But my next question is, could it being out of adjustment tell the transmission to downshift into the wrong gear? What i mean is here lately when i pull up to a red light or even stop and put in park and go back into drive it acts like the truck won't downshift itself into 1st. It kinda feels in between gears and you can barely bump the throttle and you feel it lock in first and then the tranny shifts out fine. Just looking for any info here. thanks guys.
Tim
But my next question is, could it being out of adjustment tell the transmission to downshift into the wrong gear? What i mean is here lately when i pull up to a red light or even stop and put in park and go back into drive it acts like the truck won't downshift itself into 1st. It kinda feels in between gears and you can barely bump the throttle and you feel it lock in first and then the tranny shifts out fine. Just looking for any info here. thanks guys.
Tim
New User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Same issue on a '03 Excursion. Was hoping it was going to be an easy fix, but when I checked the screws they were still in tight. Does anyone know how to adjust the actual cable? I tried to take it out of the bracket and tighten it, but I can't get it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
New User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Mine will move right out of park to reverse or drive, but it won't shift back to the left. Once it gets to drive it won't go left to reverse or park, so I have to climb under and manually put it in park so it will start the next time. FUN!
Rather Be Floatin
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,468
Likes: 0
From: Marble Falls, Tx.
Thanks to everyone, I have a buddy with a f-150 that was only able to start his truck in neutral and had to jiggle the shifter to get his truck to start. I pointed him to this thread and in just a few minutes he found the bolts and tightened them and it fixed his problem!!
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 321
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas, NV
Just found this thread. I will try this fix tonight. How big are the bolts? Somebody posted that they found one on the floor and I think I may have found one a few months ago on the floor, but never figured out where it came from. My first thought was that it was from some interior panel. It was black and about 1 1/4" long by maybe 1/8" diameter. I do not remember what kind of head it had.