First of all, everything works fine, but this is bugging me. 2001, F50 Super Crew. Automatic transmission. I let my kids use the truck. Next time I got in it, the shift lever felt weird. It was farther back (closer to the dash) than it used to be. It also no longer clearly locks into a gear. With little effort I can move it through the gears. Used to be I'd pull it forward a bit, move it into gear and then let it go. No longer the case. I can now easily over shoot drive and end up in low. I found an pin about 1 - 1.5 inches long on the floor. But cannot figure out where it came from (or even if it is part of the problem). I can't tell where the gear selection slots/teeth are. I've searched around for some sort of drawing of the shift column and mechanism to no avail. Anyone have an exploded view of the shift column/mechanism. Anyone know where the gear selection slots/holes (no idea what to call it) are.

Thanks!

 

Long shot, but there is a pin on the bottom of the shifter that holds it in place on the column. Maybe check there.

 

OK, I found this. From the description of item 18, it seems to be what I am looking for. It just does not look like it (I expected it to have some sort of teeth or something). If it is, then I am thinking that item 15 might be the pin I found. I looks like that pin might be what hold in the shift lever though. I'll tear into this weekend, but if what I am thing is correct then: Item 11 slides into item 14 which slides into item 16 and held in there by item 15 which rubs on item 18 and that is what "locks" it into a specific gear. Not sure if anyone can follow that thought enough to confirm it.

 

Yes, that looks to be the one I was talking about. The one on mine backs out a little bit every so often and I have to push it back in.

 

Thanks! That is good to know. Hopefully that is all it is. How do you know when it has backed out? I'm thinking that at least the steering column shroud needs to be removed to get access to it.

 

The shifter boot on my truck was torn, so I just removed it completely. With it removed you can see right in there where it's at.