OK guys,

I have a 2009 XLT with 5.4 and its 4x4 - comming home from picking up pizza last night when I got in the driveway I had a hard time getting the truck out of D and it went as far as R - now it is LOCKED. Shut it down and put on the parking brake. Tried it again this AM an nothing it LOCKED UP.

Called the Ford 800 # on the back of the F-150 card and they have a tow truck coming (3 hours because I let them know I was in a safe place) to pick her up and take her to my delaership.

I park the truck outside and it has been cold like single digits (F) and high winds.

It drove just fine in mixed 4 wheeel and 2 wheel drive for the last 3 days.

Anyone have any idea what this might be?

Dealer said it will take a while to get to it and that they will park it inside and hopefully somthing will thaw and it will be fine.

This truck lives in my driveway and also did last winter, so I am really hoping this is not what it is, I need to be able to count on my vehicle no matter what the temps are outside.

Craig

 

Just a thought...

Checked the shift interlock?

Pages 281, 284 in yer Owner's manual.

Hopefully it's something simple (iced up)

Good luck - post up what they find.

MGD

 

I read up on the shift interlock and what they say in the owners guide is for when the truck is in park - is this somthing I should be trying while the truck is locked in R?

Craig

 

Duno - was just an idear - it will at least kill some time while yer waiting

On another note - if it's stuck in Reverse, how they gonna drag yer truck to the dealer - on a platform? If it's front-first - they risk damaging something with the driveline locked like that. Hopefully they will tow by lifting the rear end ...

MGD

 

They are sending a flat top wrecker but it is in head 1st - should be interesting.

Craig

 

My guess would be something with the brake shift interlock as well. Possibly a blown fuse?? Do the brake lights work? At one time the interlock was on the same circuit. Not 100% sure about 09.

 

Brake lights work - manual says its on the same fuse as the interlock - ah well tow truck is due in a few - so I will update on what the dealer says.

Please throw out any more ideas you may have as I will have my BS detector on high when dealing with the dealer. Only 3,000 more miles till warranty is up and I want it fixed correctly before that happens.

Craig

 

Well interesting - I was advised the tow truck would take 3 hours to arrive - in 3hrs 15 min Ford called me back to ask if the truck was there. I advised no and was put on hold while they called the tow company. I was advised they were running 45 min late. 5 min later the driver called to confrim my location. he arrived in 40 min and 5 min later Ford called again to confirm his arrival.

I would preffer if my truck had not broken down but I do appreciate the effort Ford is putting into customer service.

Craig

 

too bad the company ford roadside contracted to come and get your truck doesnt seem to focus on customer service. 3 hrs?? i call BS there. when we go out for roadside calls we have to be there within an hr safe location or not. AND we will be there.

 

You sure you don't have a 2011? My guess is it must be a 2011. Because the 2010's are "proven" or so I have heard.

 

No, when you call for the Road Side Assistance they will ask you. If it's at your home ect and not a big deal to need to pick it up asap they will "make an appointment". Probably saves them money unless your actually on the side of the road or something and you need them to come get you.

 

The weather here has been bad and the county has NOT been plowing the roads, I have seen ditched cars all over the place so the 3 hours did not seem too outragious to me.

Dealer shuttle is due here momentarly. THey pushed it inside all night and after all of the ice melted it is working again. They claim to have checked everything out and its all good. I will be the judge of that when I take it home.

I bought a 4x4 F150 so I could go where I wanted when I wanted no matter the weather now it seesm that when there is heavy wet snow I cant drive it????

Time will tell but I have lost some confidence in my truck.

Craigsend

 

I'm not sure where ice or snow could have built up to cause it not to shift.
XLT right?... shift cable from steering column to tranny... unless the cable housing is cracked and allowing water into the cable, I can't imagine what froze up?
I'd think the cables close proximity to the engine/tranny would surely keep it from freezing while driving. Maybe overnight in sub freezing temps but not while driving.
I don't buy the "sumthin' musta froze-up" theory.
Hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

I leave my truck outside as well. My 2010 FX4 sometimes feels excessively stiff when trying to shift, never locked-up though. It doesn't seem to be completely temperature and/or moisture related. It was in the 30's when I first had the problem, but since then it's dropped into the teens (with precipitation) and I haven't had the problem.

As a side note, if the actual shifter is preventing the shifting, you can remove the little rectangle on the shifter base and press the button with a ballpoint pen. This will override the safety solenoid that prevents shifting when the brake isn't applied...which shouldn't be the case since you're in reverse. Just an

Not that you need pictoral instructions, but threads are always better with pics

Cover on shifter:


The "button" on the shifter moves this shaft:


...which disengages this solenoid:


Hope you get everything worked out

 

Thanks for the pics - I have a column shifter though. I read how to do it in the owners manual but since it is under warranty I left it to the dealer. They pushed it inside and it thawed overnight and they check it out and gave it a clean bill of health. The truck seems to be working like new again.

When it was up on the tow truck it had a crazy amount of ice crusted to the underside, really it was hard to believe.

Also when I picked it up they showed me an exploreer that had just been brought in for the very same issue. We had a really odd storm that started out as rain then turned to sleet and then quickly froze and remained bitter cold for 2 days while continuing to snow and by bitter cold I mean low teens (f) for a high and close to 0 (f) at night with 25 to 35 MPH winds.

Hopfully I have seen the last of this issue.

Craig