I have a 2003 ranger 2x4 2.3 automatic that I recently purchased for my son to drive. The problem is that it is hard to shift and I have had the cable and the shift tube checked by a mechanic and it checked out OK. I was told by the mechanic that this could be caused by the neutral safety switch has anyone got any info on this.

 

Did you try starting it in neutral

 

if you look at the lever that the cable actuates on the trans its slotted on a shaft that goes into the trans and the NSS is built inside the digital range sensor which slides over the top of said lever. It is possible that it may cause it to bind but its very basic its nothing more than contractors to tell the PCM when its in reverse to activate the reverse lights and neutral or park for starting. I can't see how it would make it hard to shift. You could try backing the retaining nut off a bit to see if someone has replaced it at some point and overtorqued it causing it to bind.