97 f150 4x4 auto trans

The column shifter is really loose and will not go into park. Any ideas on how to fix it or what the problem is?

 

The shifter under the dash moves a lever that pulls or pushes a cable to the transmission.
Another trouble can be just the indicator position you see at the dash.
Notice if the indicator won't go to the park position but you can still put the transmission into park by feel and normal shift lever movement.
If yes, there is a plastic part broken that controls the position indicator.
If you lay on your back and with a light, look up at the column you can see the control wire that moves the position indicator.
Down at the firewall but up high you will see the lever that operates the cable.
One of these could be the problem.
Under the truck and on the side of the transmission where the cable connects is an adjustment with a black clip.
This may have come apart.
Good luck.

 

I think there is a bolt or two right at the bottom of the colum that works loose. The one that holds the lever Bluegrass is talking about.

 

Ok thanks I will check tommorrow . . I'm thinkin somethin has come loose b/c the shifter is really loose and feels like I just hit a wall when I try to go from reverse to park

 

Loose (or missing) Torx-headed screws....

 

If you can actually turn off your truck and take out the key, you're in park...

 

Fixed it!! Thanks guys!!!. . All the advice helped . . Torx bolt was layin in the floor and I laid up under there and found where it went. . Easy fix thank goodness

 

For those with a 2004+ or so model that find this thread via search, I just went through this with my wife's expedition. The shift indicator mechanism itself was dirty and gummed up with plastic grit from sliding along the rails. I took the bottom off of the dash, the dash cover, and the instrument panel (didn't take it all the way out, just loose). Use a small screwdriver to depress the clips that hold the mechanism in the bottom of the instrument cluster and pull it down. From there clean the rails the indicator rides in. Hers had dust piles at either end. Clean, reassemble in reverse order. HTH

 

You obviously didnt notice this is the 97-03 section.

 

Don't give him a hard time - search doesn't discriminate unless you read carefully.

 

What's the bracket called that the 2 torx screws go into I need the bracket due to one of the wholes broke and the screw won't go into