I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction, thanks in advance.

2001 Super Crew Lariat, Automatic, 4x4, 145K

Recently I've started having problems starting the truck in park but neutral works every time. When putting the truck in park it also sometimes will roll a number of feet before actually settling into park. I am also unable to select 1st gear (last gear from left to right) using the shifter.

The truck seems to be shifting automatically just fine so I'm incline to think the transmission is OK and that the problem has something to do with the gear shifter and or neutral safety switch. I did try to manually move the lever connected to the switch and transmission and was still unable to get it into 1st gear. I was able to move the lever into Park, Neutral, Reverse, Drive, and 2.

Can anyone give me some ideas on how to trouble shoot this problem? Thanks.

-Bob

 

think youve answered your own question with the first sentence with the starting issues in park. I would go with safety switch.

 

The "safety switch" is actually a TRS (transmission range selector). You could also have a loose shifter tube in the column or a sticky cable.

 

sounds like a loose shifter column...theres two hex bolts that hold it in that notoriously get loose....check your floorboard for them

 

Turned out to be the two bolts under the steering column. Tightened them up and works perfect. Thanks everybody.