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Won't start, won't go into park


Tom_G

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Honolulu, HI
Vehicle Year
99
Make / Model
Ford Ranger XLT
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Aloha all!
99 Ranger XLT 4WD w/extended half cab.
For quite a while, she's been particular about going into Park. I'd think she was, but she wouldn't let me take the key out, so I'd fiddle about with the gearshift until we came to an accommodation.

Last night, when I came home and parked, the gearshift felt odd. Soft, maybe, like it wasn't hitting that last "click". But the key came out, so I didn't worry about it, figured it was just me.

This morning, when I went to start her, the lights and fan and dials all came on, but the starter didn't turn over. There was a bit of a whirring sound, but nothing like the obnoxious squeal of a starter with a disengaged solenoid. After a few more tries, taking out and reinserting the key, I decided it must be a bad battery. No worries, I have a power bank for such things, so I reached to pop the hood, and grabbed the emergency brake release by mistake.

The truck started rolling out of the carport! I stomped the brakes, but they had no effect, so I re-engaged the parking brake. At that point I realized the ignition wasn't working because she wasn't in Park, so I started fiddling about with the gearshift again. Still, no matter how I shifted and jiggled, I couldn't get it into Park. But, oddly, I could remove the key.

Also, why didn't the brakes work? I know that power brakes require a running engine to work properly, but they should definitely still function with the the motor off!

What's going on?

Mahalo!
 


franklin2

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Bronco II
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Manual
If it thinks it's not in park, it's not going to crank. I do know that much. Not sure if it will crank in neutral?
 

bobbywalter

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woodhaven mi
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1988
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sawzall?
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33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
It knew it wasn't in park.


You need to adjust the linkage or tighten up column parts or Fri d out what broke....might just be a grommet . .could be a bad cable.

With park brake on ..manually put it in park....and work your way back
 

RonD

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Google: Ford Ranger loose column shifter

A common issue on Ford trucks in general
And several reasons/ways for it to be loose

Visually inspect the shift cable where it comes out the firewall and bends down to transmission
Feel it with your hand to see if sheath has split or is damaged
 

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