2008 Sport Trac floor console removal

[dbug789]

2008 sport trac,recently had the transmission rebuilt - cost $4000! This was at eagle transmission. I drove for a week and it still wasnt shifting right. Took back to the shop and the idiot tells me that I need to shift in lowered gear from park and then in drive. He claims this is the proper way to shift fords!! I told him this is unacceptable and his repairs did not fix the issue. He basically told me "nothing he could do".
I bought the Interlock shifter module and I am desperately trying to replace this little thing, I unscrewed ALL the floor console screws and the console moves back but not enough to get to the module. ANY suggestions. I am trying to save money and doing repairs on my own. I have the part but cant get to the module

 

[bdmaash]

2008 sport trac,recently had the transmission rebuilt - cost $4000! This was at eagle transmission. I drove for a week and it still wasnt shifting right. Took back to the shop and the idiot tells me that I need to shift in lowered gear from park and then in drive. He claims this is the proper way to shift fords!! I told him this is unacceptable and his repairs did not fix the issue. He basically told me "nothing he could do".
I bought the Interlock shifter module and I am desperately trying to replace this little thing, I unscrewed ALL the floor console screws and the console moves back but not enough to get to the module. ANY suggestions. I am trying to save money and doing repairs on my own. I have the part but cant get to the module

are you having issues (getting out of park) shifting when pressing the brake pedal - shift interlock.
The shift interlock is only to get out of park in this truck I think, and you should be free to shift gears after that.

For my truck, it behaves best if shifted to drive, if in third or lower when starting out it doesn't shift correctly.

 

[dbug789]

are you having issues (getting out of park) shifting when pressing the brake pedal - shift interlock.
The shift interlock is only to get out of park in this truck I think, and you should be free to shift gears after that.

For my truck, it behaves best if shifted to drive, if in third or lower when starting out it doesn't shift correctly.

YES - I have the part BUT I cant get to it because I can not pull the floor console back enough to get to the part. I have removed ALL screws from the floor console but there is one long black tube like piece in front of the module that wont move back enough to allow me to get to the module.

 

[dbug789]

YES - I have the part BUT I cant get to it because I can not pull the floor console back enough to get to the part. I have removed ALL screws from the floor console but there is one long black tube like piece in front of the module that wont move back enough to allow me to get to the module.

View attachment 443230

The long black piece wont move back enough for me to get to the module

 

[bdmaash]

never done it, but found this youtube video - may help
, is the long black piece on the right in the picture (air vent going to rear console vents)?

 

[dbug789]

These were all great Videos - Thanks for sending. I made sure I have all the screws off. But still cant get floor console pull out enough to get to the Shifter interlock module. That black tube which is the vent to the back just is in the way and I cant see how to move that back anymore. Park is so hard to get out of even when depressing the pedal and I am sick that I spent so much money on a transmission rebuilt that I probably didnt need. Thanks for sending videos

 

[bdmaash]

These were all great Videos - Thanks for sending. I made sure I have all the screws off. But still cant get floor console pull out enough to get to the Shifter interlock module. That black tube which is the vent to the back just is in the way and I cant see how to move that back anymore. Park is so hard to get out of even when depressing the pedal and I am sick that I spent so much money on a transmission rebuilt that I probably didnt need. Thanks for sending videos

I would just disable that function, but there is a chance the problem may be a broken pushrod, when you press the button on the shifter knob, it pushes a rod down (plastic rod)inside that shifter, which is known to break.

With motor off and in park, (in run position without being started), press the brake pedal, you should hear a click from the shift interlock. If that click is there, the interlock mechanism is probably fine. Also you should see that interlock solenoid move.

 

[dbug789]

I would just disable that function, but there is a chance the problem may be a broken pushrod, when you press the button on the shifter knob, it pushes a rod down (plastic rod)inside that shifter, which is known to break.

With motor off and in park, (in run position without being started), press the brake pedal, you should hear a click from the shift interlock. If that click is there, the interlock mechanism is probably fine. Also you should see that interlock solenoid move.

Thank you - is this push rod and easy fix? Since I already have the console basically taken off - maybe is this is an easy cheap fix -I can do this myself. I will test this tonight after work -

 

[bdmaash]

Well I am guessing at things, and it is not good to randomly change parts without verifying fault.
There are some posts in the forum about replacing the rod (some with aftermarket home made parts)

I would temporarily bypass the shift interlock, it is just a solenoid that pushes a locking mechanism out of the way.
Force it stuck into that unlocked position.

Simple mechanical movements controlled by simple hard to get at electronics.

You will lose the safety feature of not being able to shift out of park unless the key is in run position and brake is depressed.

I watched another video of some expert mechanic (promoting his shop), that magically removed the shift interlock with minimal parts removal, most likely he faked it with the new shiny part.

 

[dbug789]

Well I am guessing at things, and it is not good to randomly change parts without verifying fault.
There are some posts in the forum about replacing the rod (some with aftermarket home made parts)

I would temporarily bypass the shift interlock, it is just a solenoid that pushes a locking mechanism out of the way.
Force it stuck into that unlocked position.

Simple mechanical movements controlled by simple hard to get at electronics.

You will lose the safety feature of not being able to shift out of park unless the key is in run position and brake is depressed.

I watched another video of some expert mechanic (promoting his shop), that magically removed the shift interlock with minimal parts removal, most likely he faked it with the new shiny part.

Thanks' for the u

 

[Paul Fithian]

See Transmission Shift Interlock Hack

 

[dbug789]

I would just disable that function, but there is a chance the problem may be a broken pushrod, when you press the button on the shifter knob, it pushes a rod down (plastic rod)inside that shifter, which is known to break.

With motor off and in park, (in run position without being started), press the brake pedal, you should hear a click from the shift interlock. If that click is there, the interlock mechanism is probably fine. Also you should see that interlock solenoid move.

Thanks for reply -I changed the interlock and then my OD wont work - so I put the old Interlock switch back and it does shift out of park fine and i can see the interlock switch move . When I shift to drive it is like it is stuck in Neutral so I have to shift to low then in drive.

 

[dbug789]

Thanks for reply -I changed the interlock and then my OD wont work - so I put the old Interlock switch back and it does shift out of park fine and i can see the interlock switch move . When I shift to drive it is like it is stuck in Neutral so I have to shift to low then in drive.

I think it is the push rod - I have not seen any videos on changing, but I am looking

 

[bdmaash]

seems quite the struggle, the pushrod is more for getting the key out - may have sent you down the wrong rabbit hole.
- the pushrods purpose seems to only be to activate a switch so you can pull key out in park.
video to watch on that subject :

06bluez has a post in this thread post #17 - read how to replace rod (at this point I do not think it is an issue)​

Key stuck in Ignition, Steer Column will not Lock

Hey Sport Trac fans, I am on my second Sport Trac! I had an 2003 and sold it and bought a used 2007 V8 4wd. Recently I stopped at a Lowes store and I could NOT get the key out of the ignition. I noticed that the steering column also did not lock. I found some recomendations here about a...

www.explorerforum.com

I'm thinking the linkage at transmission is bent, or shift cable is out of alignment. Hard to diagnose through words.