Hello,

I have been searching the forum for 2 hours and haven't found what I'm looking for so I'm going to post forgive me if I missed this somewhere. First the setup. I have a 1985 Ford F140 2x4 2 barrell carb, AOD transmission. I was having problems with starting several months ago. I replaced the ignition key switch and the switch on the steering column which corrected the problem. About 3 weeks ago the ignition (key) would get stuck while trying to start and would try to continue starting the truck. I would turn the key back to run and it worked fine. I have tried to readjust the ignition on the column and now the truck will start IF I push the bar going to the switch down to force it to start. Now that I finally got it running the truck will not shift out of park.

I thought perhaps the neutral safety switch and am going to go outside to bypass the red/blue wires as I have read here but it doesn't sounds like that will solve the problem with the gear shift stuck in Park. Oh and the tranny is fine with fluid and showed no problems with this until I dropped the stearing column to adjust the switch on the column. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

Update, I disconnected the gear shift linkage from the transmission and was able to shift the transmission manually. I put it in neutral and was able to push the truck. So that tells me it is in the stearing column some where the shifter will not move. Any suggestions?

 

I had the same thing happen to my `87F250. I don`t know but I assume they are the same. On mine there is a soft metal link called the ign. switch actuator. This connects the key switch to the rod that runs down the steering column to the ign./start switch. It also locks the shift lever in park. I would bet the actuator has broken. You will need to pull the steering wheel, remove the turn signal switch plate and pull the steering column shroud from around the key switch. You will then see the actuator and the broken piece jamming the shift lever. A new ign. switch actuator is around $8.00 and takes about 3hrs to fit. It is not difficult, just akward. That`s my two pennies.

 

Lazy K,

Well you were right thank you very much it is broken. I just removed it and purchased a new one but can't so far figure out how to put the new one in. The old one was easy to get out because it was broke but the new one I can't get in yet. I need to remove another part of the steering part that is blocking it I'm trying to figure that out. I see 2 silver holes one on the right and the other on the left. It looks like I need some kind of tool that will screw into these holes and then reverse screw to remove them since they are not really holes they are some type of screw. Of course I could be wrong. I'm researching a way to get this off if you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. If I find the answer before you post then I will post that I figured it out meanwhile time to search...

Thanks

 

Those two threaded holes are the tilt pivot pins. Find a screw that threads in, and take a claw hammer or something similiar and pull them out.

Take the snap ring loose on the steering shaft. Gently pull down on the whole thing to get enough clearance to put the new piece in. Whatever you do, don't take the whole thing apart on the shaft, since there is a very heavy spring in there that is a pain to deal with.

I had to go to the Ford dealer and talk to one of the mechanics to figure this out.

 

Franklin2,

Thanks for the information I will look into it hopefully after work today although it is suppose to snow and get very cold so I will see how long I can last inside the cab..hehe. I will post my progress thanks again.

 

Okay I wanted to give you an update. All is now working I was able to get the pivot pins out and place the new part into the column. The truck IS NOW ALIVE again. Thank you all so very much.

 

This thread seems to address what seems broken on my 1990 F-150, with tilt steering. I had the darn thing apart for two days while trying to find an answer. Put the thing back together temporarily in order to move it into a safe place. I tried to order a shop manual from helmInc.com to no avail (out of stock). Low and behold! here's the mystery solved. Thank you Franklin2. I still could use a decent shop manual. Any ideas on where i could buy one?

 

http://www.lloydsautolit.com/search....ry=Shop+Manual
or ebay
search the archives, there are a few other places that ppl have recommended.

-ct

 

Check the manuals in this link: eBay Motors: 1990 FORD F-150-550, BRONCO SERVICE & TRBLSHOOT MANUAL (item 180253851540 end time Jun-22-08 20:30:00 PDT)

 

What size screw were used on the pivots?