I have an 04 f150, i've had the truck about a year now and cant figure this out. the truck starts in park 90% of the time, maybe once every 2 weeks I have to put in neutral to start. when I shift from park to drive nothing happens, park to reverse will work sometimes if I nudge the shifter right. if I shift from park to second then to reverse or park to second to drive the truck is fine. it shifts fine through all gears once im driving. I have replaced the transmission range sensor and shifter cable and nothing. I have scanned the truck at ford and don't get codes. I have had the wife shift while im under the truck and it seems as if the transmission is reading nothing when shifted into drive. I have the floor console shifter. any help is appreciated

 

Something must be loose in the shifter assembly. I was under the impression these trucks would not start at all unless the sensor verified the transmission was in park. I would suggest dissecting the shifter linkage and assembly itself, or possibly swap it out with another from a doner truck.

 

It should also start if it's in neutral.