97 ranger 4.0 automatic. My key won't always come out when the truck is in park and the ignition is off. Sometimes they come right out, other times I'll have to push the shifter as far as it will go.

Long story short I didn't have this problem until I replaced the shifter collum after a tow truck driver broke it. It snapped right where those two torx head screws that always come loose are located.

My shifter collum is a little stiff now. I was thinking maybe lubing the bushings or loosening the clamps a little might free it up a bit and help it release my key more consistently.

Any other ideas?

 

Welcome to the forum

The column shifter shouldn't effect the key, the shifter has a solenoid lock(electric) above gas pedal area to lock it in Park so no mechanical connection between shifter and key cylinder

Try putting trans in Neutral and turning off key and pull it out

There is a mechanical lock on steering wheel and key position

And there is the button above the key that must be pressed to turn it off all the way, so you can remove it

And then the key cylinder itself

You can put graphite into the cylinder, to lube it

You can replace key cylinder and have the new cylinder re-keyed for your current key