When I put my truck in park, many times I'll come back and try to start it and it won't start. I have to take the truck out of gear and slam it back into park. Then it'll start. (It's an automatic, obviously) Is there some kind of parking switch that needs to be replaced? I didn't mind it too much until today when I got new tires and the guy at the tire shop couldn't start the truck. Kinda embarrassing. :)

 

No one? Wow. I would have thought someone would have had this issue before. I hate to start ripping my steering column apart on my own. Heh

 

it would be the range sensor on the side of the trans. not in the dash. unless there's a pinched or frayed wire running to the sensor id guess it's that. The shifter cable is connected to it.

 

is that what it's called? A range sensor? Any idea how hard it is to replace?

 

Well i think if i remember right the bolt that holds it in place goes through the case and you have to drop the pan on the trans to get to the nut. check into that some more. i'd check the wires on it though to make sure the connection is good for the park sensor it may just need be pushed back in place or something

 

Maybe some more people can chime in and let me know how hard it will be. I may wait until the truck refuses to start and then deal with it. Hehehe

 

put trans in neutral and set parking brake/block wheels (it must be in neutral for proper adjustment)
1. Remove the shift cable
2.remove the nut on the shift lever
3. remove the shift lever
4. remove the range sensor electrical connector
5. remove the two range sensor bolts
6. slide the range sensor off the shift shaft.
7. install the new range sensor and align the marks on the black housing and the white center to indicate neutral
8. tighten the range sensor bolts
9. put the shift lever back on
10. tighten the shift lever nut
11. put the shift cable back on

 

So no dropping the transmission pan? Whew. I just had the fluid changed two days ago. Thanks for the info! Now to see if I can find the part.

 

Just out of curiosity, is this the part that I need if I have an automatic transmission? I've seen several people talking about this part for a manual but I haven't see one for an automatic.

**Nevermind. I found the part on RockAuto and have it on the way.

 

Well I guess not. The only one I could find was the one for standard transmission. I emailed Rock Auto and they said they don't have it and can't get it. Any idea what to do now? I don't really want a used one from a junk yard. I'm not sure I even know what it looks like. I could sure use some ideas on this.



Is this the correct part?

 

Might have found it. Got the switch on the way. We'll see if this fixes it.

 

NS-200 is the wrong part. If anyone else has a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0 with automatic transmission with OD, the part is NS-129.