so my brothers looking at this used f150 and while it has alot of miles at around 215k, it does seem real clean inside and out, it starts nice and runs and everything, the only thing that kinda worries me a little is the play in the shift.... it is loose with a capital L

now ill be the first to admit im no technician of any sort but i cant shake the feeling that thats an indication of the tranny being a timebomb.... but i could be wrong

so more likely does the shift lever just need tightening? or are chances greater that it goes deeper than that?

thanks

 

First things first....

What type/year/engine/ect. of an F150 are we talking about? Your not going to get any answers without that info...

 

a 99 with the 5.4.... not sure which transmission (4 or 5 sp. auto) and like i said it seems to run fine but the column selector has quite a bit of play in it, like to where you can put it in drive and its own weight will pull it down to the end of the "D"

and im a bit concerned myself with it but id hate to make a big deal with it and out turns out being a "just needs tightened" kinda thing

 

i think i know what you are talking about and it is like that on almost every column shifted vehicle (especially ford) that i have driven. i have a freshly rebuilt tranny and mine is still like it. i dont think its anything to worry about.

 

Mine's pretty loose, but has always worked fine. My brother just fixed his boss's 98 ish truck. His shifter was so loose, that the truck wouldn't start. It was an easy fix. I'll try to find out where the issue was and how it was fixed.

 

I've often wondered this myself, what makes the shifter become so loose?

 

its wear and tear in the linkages. things stretch, holes get worn bigger, etc.

 

more than likely just a bushing out of place on the shift shaft drop column
down couple little bolts holding shaft slibe bushing into place drop of super glue to hold it
mitch

 

If it doesn't slip out of gear, it'll be fine.

 

you can replace a cable and linkage and it will be fine

 

This job is so easy I'm suprised not more people know about it. Nothing to do with the tranny/MLPS/cable, but simply two screws that need tightened.

Lay on the floor and look up above the brake pedal on top of the steering rod there are two two brass torque screws (T45 or 50, I haven't done it in a few weeks) on top of the steering rod where the shifter linkage attaches. Wiggle the shifter and you can see 'em move. Tightnen up and yer good to go.

The only real problem happens when it's loose enough that the MLPS won't get into park or neutral to override the starter interlock.

Adrianspeeder

 

Thanks a million man!! , my brother skipped the f150 and got a cheaper f250 that had that same problem and that was exactly it.....

 

Like speeder said - just like. Mine was loose at one time, just follow the procedure to take the play out of the little cable. Pretty simple.

BTW - That procedure is even in the Haynes/Chilton's manuals.

 

Totally amazing!!!....good as new!!